Local Teacher Recipient of Fellowship from Westfield Rotary

A local elementary school teacher is the 2015 recipient of the Westfield Rotary Club’s Philhower Fellowship in recognition of outstanding teaching at the elementary school level.

Kareem Thompson, fifth grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Westfield, will receive the fellowship award as a guest of honor at the Westfield Rotary Club luncheon on Tuesday, May 5, Westfield Public Schools said. The Westfield Board of Education will be presenting Thompson with a resolution at a reception at Jefferson Elementary School’s auditorium, 1200 Boulevard, at 7 p.m., as well.

Thompson has been a teacher in the Westfield Public Schools district since 1999, beginning his teaching career at Jefferson Elementary. According to Westfield Public Schools, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Stockton College and his Master’s degree in elementary education from Rowan University.

“It is an extreme honor to receive the Charles Philhower Fellowship Award,” Thompson said after being told he was going to be receiving the fellowship. “I am grateful to the Westfield Rotary for their recognition. It is a privilege to have been given the opportunity to help students learn how to think critically about the world around them.”

“I am fortunate to be amongst the most amazing array of individuals anyone could ever ask for here at Jefferson Elementary,” Thompson continued. “This is the root of any success I have achieved. They are my support system, and without them none of this would have been possible. I am humbled and overwhelmed.”

Thompson is the 23rd recipient of the Philhower Fellowship. The Philhower Fellowship was established by the Rotary Club in 1993 in honor of former Westfield educator and rotary member Charles Philhower and to recognize the importance of teaching in the elementary grades.

(Photos courtesy of Westfield Public Schools)