I would like to nominate Lisa Walker for the KSL/Zion’s Bank Teacher Feature Award. Lisa Walker is the Emergency Medical and Exercise Science teacher at Springville High School, as well as our head athletic trainer. I have had the privilege of working with Lisa the past fifteen years as a colleague and a coach.
Mrs. Walker has made a huge difference in the lives of our students, athletes and coaches at Springville High School. As a teacher I have watched her draw a huge picture of the heart on the sidewalk outside of our building so that students can walk through the heart as they describe how blood is pumped through the body, I have also observed as she puts students through a mock disaster to test students knowledge of first aid and CPR skills. What wonderful learning tools these activities have been for students.
Speaking as a coach, Lisa is invaluable. When I first began coaching it was up to the coach to take care of sprains, strains and many other sports injuries. Trying to coach and take care of an injured athlete proved to be difficult at times. When Lisa joined our staff it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders. Lisa takes care of athletic injuries, sets up physicals for our athletes, is in constant contact with doctor’s in our area to make sure our athletes get the best care possible; she talks with athletes and parents about eating disorder, injury prevention, disease prevention and concussions at team nights. Lisa stays in close contact with coaches about athletes and concerns they may have about athletes. Lisa trains BYU students as they do their internship as student trainers, as well as training high school students to be student trainers. Lisa is continually bettering herself; she attends athletic training conferences in the summer and takes extra classes whenever possible. Lisa has kept herself up to date on a variety of injuries and illness that we hadn’t heard of fifteen years ago, such as MRSA and the seriousness of concussions.
Lisa Walker is truly an amazing educator. Lisa genuinely cares about her students and our athletes. Lisa has put in countless extra hours to better our school and our athletes. It has been my privilege to work with her.
-Suzette Hartvigsen
I was the principal at Springville HIgh from 2007-09. Lisa Walker is one of the finest educators I have had the priviledge to work with. She not only does an exceptional job in the classroom, but I believe she is the best high school athletic trainer currently in the state of Utah. I think many coaches around the state would agree with my assessment. One of her strongest characteristics is her ability to recognize and meet the needs of her student athletes. She is there to not only take care of them physically, but I have seen her go out of her way to build relationships with each team. The students and parents at SHS completely love her and are very loyal to her. She would be very worthy of receiving the teacher feature award. I am very honored and proud of the chance I had to work with Lisa Walker. I consider her a great friend, but most of all I consider a great beacon for what is right with public education.
-Rick Robins