The Fenton Education Foundation has announced that Jim Leh is this year’s recipient of the Nancy and Edward Petruska Lifetime Achievement to Education Award. Leh was a dedicated middle school teacher, coach, and assistant principal during his 38 years with Fenton Area Public Schools.
Leh was known for his love for science and he instilled that love to his students for 34 years. In addition to his role as teacher, he coached boys basketball for 34 years, girls basketball for 30 years, track for 32 years and girls volleyball for two years. He also spent his last four years with Fenton as assistant principal at Fenton Intermediate School.
Edward Petruska, for which this award is named, was Leh’s assistant principal when he first started teaching at the middle school.
Barry Tiemann, FEF board member and former colleague said, “Jim is a great example of a lifetime educator whose passion for helping kids expanded way past a normal teaching day. Jim was someone who not only his students and athletes respected and looked up to, but his colleagues, parents, and community members did as well.”
Leh and his wife, Kim, now reside in Cheboygan.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was established by way of a gift from the Petruska family to the Fenton Education Foundation. The award recognizes the contribution that educators make to our community. Edward and Nancy Petruska devoted a combined 52 years of educational services to the Fenton Area Public Schools, for which we will always be grateful.
The State Bank Community Contribution to Education Award
The Fenton Education Foundation has also announced that Jennifer Fleck is the recipient of The State Bank Community Contribution to Education Award for 2014.
Fleck has been a volunteer for Fenton schools for 14 years, working to support teachers and students in their classrooms. Examples of her dedication to students in the district include supporting the Fenton High School Band Program as an officer of the Band Boosters for more than five years, working with the Theatre Boosters and co-founding the Fenton Community Orchestra (FCO). She serves as president of the FCO board and is the executive director of the orchestra. She has been the Marching Band camp coordinator for several years, has volunteered to chaperone international trips and events and has been active in partnering with the Flint Institute of Music as well as other regional organizations.
Joe Kryza, FEF chairman, said Fleck is a “great example of an active community leader and has been instrumental in creating collaboration between students, teachers and community members. The wonderful Fenton Community Orchestra, a true achievement for Fenton, has flourished and is a great example of her dedication and passion.”
Andy Perkins, Fenton Band instructor, said, “Jennifer is a tireless worker, dedicated to extremely high standards. She always thinks of the students, schools and the community as the beneficiaries of her efforts and has organized trips and performances for the public, bringing in individuals from local assisted living facilities, our schools and beyond.”
Fleck lives in Fenton with her husband, Greg, and their three sons.
