Dianna Wolchina

C. F. “Cliff” Spanier Award

Every day, we, as educators, are faced with the decision of how, or even whether, we will help the children who have been placed in our care.

Recently, I read Kent Keith’s book “Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments.” In this book, Keith says that there will always be justifiable reasons for not doing something we could do to help children.

But this year’s C. F. “Cliff” Spanier Award winners are all about doing something special for the children entrusted to their care. They do not focus only on the children who come from the wealthiest, most influential families. They focus on those children – rich or poor, gifted or special, clean or dirty—who need to be loved.

These recipients’ thoughts are always on doing good, fighting for the underdog, building children’s self-confidence, helping others, and giving each child the best they’ve got. Their actions, in and of themselves, are satisfying; whether or not anything else follows.  

They have joined a cause and it gives them meaning bigger than themselves. It’s their “inside” being achieved by looking “outside” to love and help others.

Emily Dickinson said it best in this poem…

If I can stop one heart from breaking

I shall not live in vain.

If I can ease one life the aching

Or cool one pain

Or help one fainting robin into his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

Today’s recipients understand that when they help others, in both big and small ways, they have not lived in vain. They understand that making a difference in the lives of others gives meaning to their own life.

Our two award winners understand that people, particularly little people, have many needs and they have only three basic options…

1.    Do nothing, and ignore the need; an option that is a moral failure. OR…

2.    Take advantage of these weaknesses, exploit them, to make themselves look better; OR…

3.    Try to meet these little people’s need.

For a Spanier Winner the last option is the only option. It is the only option based on loving children. It is the only option that generates hope in a child that’s hurting.

These two ladies have gone about their work in a quiet, unassuming way. They have done what they’ve done because it is right; not for any recognition. But today, they receive recognition anyway. Because they’ve earned it many times over!

So, in appreciate of your commitment to nurture and mold young lives” the 2006 Spanier Award is given to Mrs. Diana Wolchina and Ms. Amy Jones!