SOLD OUT! - 40th “Ruby” Anniversary Teacher Eddy Awards

As we celebrate our 40^th “Ruby” Anniversary, this year's Teacher Eddy Awards takes on a special meaning. Passion and fiery red will be at the forefront of this magical evening of recognition and appreciation for our local educators.

The iconic ruby red shoes is a symbol of passion and determination on the journey to Oz. Similarly, our local teachers bring that same fiery passion and determination to their work every day.  Like the journey to Oz, the journey of teaching requires heart, brains, and courage. Our local schools are fortunate to have outstanding teachers who possess all these qualities and more. They are true heroes in our community, and this evening is dedicated to recognizing and honoring them.

This Oscar night for our education community brings together over 300 educators, administrators, business leaders, and community members to celebrate and recognize the outstanding contributions of local teachers. Each school will select their Teacher of the Year honoree, who will be invited to attend the dinner gala.

Prepare to be amazed by the fun surprises and heartfelt moments that await you at this evening of magical entertainment.

Let's celebrate our local heroes with passion, fire, and the iconic ruby red that symbolizes their determination and dedication to the future of our children.

Looking to support our educators? Please attend and/or sponsor this outstanding event.

-

We are thrilled to honor 4 incredible supporters of education at the 40th Annual Teacher Eddy Awards

Friends of Education - JAMES & ANDREA DROLLINGER
James and Andrea Drollinger (Jim & Andi) are local through and through: Jim grew up in Playa del Rey, and Andi right here in Westchester. Jim went to local public schools, and Andi is a product of Catholic education. They live in Westchester with their dog Charlie, a feisty Jack Russell mix. Having spent some years at Loyola Marymount, both went into education: Jim taught English and Music at Pius X High School in Downey, and Andi spent 15 years at Kentwood Elementary followed by 13 years at St Anastasia working with multiple grade levels. She freely admits that Kindergarten is her favorite, and she misses daily interaction with the little ones.
 
As part of the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, supporting local education is at their core. Along with Jim’s sister and brother-in-law Karen & Ken Dial, their niece and nephew, Natalie Posner and Terry Dial, and their spouses, they are privileged to continue the giving legacy of Jim & Karen’s mom and dad, Howard & Jewel Drollinger, for whom supporting education, especially local education, had been a life-long priority. 
 
Personally, Jim & Andi have long supported local Catholic schools – namely, St Anastasia, St Bernard, Visitation, and St Jerome. In the absence of public school funding, fundraising is an ongoing concern for private schools. The Drollingers have been associated with St Jerome Parish for over 35 years. They were nominated for this year's Eddy Award by Tom McDonald, principal of St Jerome School. Supporting the School has been of great importance to them. It has been a huge privilege to witness the transformation of St Jerome School under Tom’s leadership. 
 
Jim and Andi Drollinger applaud the success of our local schools, and plan to continue supporting them for many years to come!
 
 
Lifetime Achievement Award - DR. DARIN EARLEY, Ed.D.
Dr. Darin Earley, Ed.D is the Founding President/CEO of 5M Legacy Educational Consulting.  Prior to this, for 16 years he served and the Director of the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Family of Schools and a part-time professor in the LMU School of Education. Dr. Earley is a career educator, secondary administrator, and human relations facilitator committed to student-centered instruction, fostering collaborative leadership, and developing cohesive schools and organizations. As Director of the LMU Family of Schools, he managed various programs and grant-funded projects that supported 16 partner schools. 
 
Dr. Earley honed his relationship-building and interpersonal communication skills as a teacher and administrator in South Los Angeles. Via interactive professional development workshops, incentive/recognition programs, and teambuilding exercises, he challenges others to rethink how they communicate, collaborate, and contribute to the health and productivity of their organization. With an emphasis on motivation and learning, he possesses a unique ability to support educators and other professionals in developing sustainable practices that maximize inputs and improve outcomes.  Dr. Earley has designed curriculums focused on leadership development, teacher preparation, and effective parenting. He has conducted numerous workshops and given various keynote presentations on educational equity, staff cohesion, leadership, supporting at-risk youth, and partnership development. 
 
A native of Los Angeles, he is a graduate of Westchester High School, Howard University and the University of Southern California. Dr. Earley has a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Psychology.  He is an author, speaker, husband, father, grandfather, and an active community member serving on boards of different non-profit organizations.

Lifetime Achievement Award - JENNIFER SULLIVAN
Jennifer Sullivan is the Westchester Community of Schools Administrator who supervises eight elementary schools, two middles schools and one high school. She leads professional development, establishes coaching, feedback, and serves as a support system to ensure that students are prepared for college, career, and life.  Jennifer collaborates with principals to provide support for school instruction by assisting school leaders to create and reinforce their vision to strengthen connections of practice, classroom teaching and student work. As the Westchester Community of Schools Administrator, she assists schools with creating a learning environment that promotes equity and high expectations to ensure that the needs of diverse students are met.
 
The Westchester Community is near and dear to Jennifer Sullivan as she grew up in Westchester attending Kentwood Elementary, Wright Middle School, and Westchester High School. Her mother served as a teacher for 47 years at the same school within Los Angeles Unified School District. It was her hard work and dedication that inspired Jennifer to go into the profession of education.  Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies from Long Beach State and received her Master of Science in Administration degree from Pepperdine University. Jennifer began her career in education 32 years ago teaching at Hyde Park Elementary School. She served as the SB 1965 Outreach Consultant, Title 1/Bilingual Coordinator at Westminster Elementary, Assistant Principal at Broadway Elementary and served 18 years as the Principal of Paseo del Rey Natural Science Magnet.  
 
Building partnerships to invest and support the Westchester Community of Schools is extremely important to Jennifer. She serves as an active member of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce and the LAX Coastal Education Foundation and collaborates with Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Family of Schools.