When you next apply for Kohl Awards this Fall there will be a slight change in procedures, which shouldn’t be too evident to applicants. WCRIS staff and its jurisdictions will no longer be facilitating the program for private school applicants.
While private school principals, teachers and students should still be eligible to apply, they will go directly through the Herb Kohl Foundation website, rather than through their local jurisdiction (diocese, synod or association).
Over the past 30 years, WCRIS has worked with the Foundation to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of private school students, teachers and principals. At WCRIS’ behest, the foundation generously created Principal awards for both private and public schools, and funded a Private School Teacher of the Year award to complement the public award.
All of this was made possible by the generosity of Herb Kohl, former owner of the Buck’s basketball team, a U.S. Senator, and a recipient of the WCRIS 2017 Friend of Education Award. The Kohl Foundation generously provided nearly $3 million to private school students, teachers and principals over the last 30 years.
“The Foundation and WCRIS have had a remarkable partnership that has done much to elevate excellence in K-12 education in the state, and we will be forever grateful for Sen. Kohl’s generosity,” said WCRIS Executive Director Sharon Schmeling.
“While WCRIS’s involvement with the Kohl Awards comes to a close, it opens a new chapter for WCRIS services to our members. Staff will now have more time to devote to helping its schools access millions of dollars in state and federal programs that affect them on a daily basis,” she said.
Schmeling said when the awards begin again in Fall, WCRIS will still send out information about the application process and deadlines, as provided by the Foundation. Also, she suggested that schools bookmark the Foundation’s website, which will have the latest information available.
