Congratulations to Pine Bush High School teacher Kara Sprague who will receive the Hope Award from Fearless!
Fearless! is a non-profit organization in the Hudson Valley providing support, services and education to those in abusive, exploitive and oppressive relationships.
She has worked with Fearless! to educate her students about dating and gender-based violence. The students in her Youth Empowerment and Sustainability Skills (YESS) class work with a representative of the group weekly and then present to the other students, sharing their knowledge.
In their release announcing the award, Fearless! notes that Ms. Sprague has opened many doors to facilitate related training, education, and prevention, not only among her students and fellow educators but across her school district.
“We are especially grateful to Kara for expanding our collaboration beyond our eight-week MVP program into a weekly meeting space for Fearless! and her YESS students to collaborate, plan, and support students with the bystander empowerment perspective of their work. Without her personal engagement, this kind of connection and the opportunities that continue to ensue could take years to develop,” noted the announcement.
“Kara Sprague is a role model for many of her students, and her dedication to raising awareness of these important issues is truly commendable,” said Pine Bush High School Principal Aaron Hopmayer.
As for Ms. Sprague herself, she is honored.
“When a representative from Fearless! called to let me know I was being honored with the Hope Award, I was excited and shocked at the same time,” she said. “Raising awareness and teaching respect and acceptance have always been a part of my teaching, so to be recognized after 21 years of teaching felt rewarding.”
In her spare time, Ms. Sprague coaches her son’s mountain biking team, Catskill Claws, and participates in both cross country and downhill mountain biking. Because she loves being in the woods and nature, she also hikes, kayaks, snowboards, and seeks out rope courses, zip lines, and white-water rafting. She loves all animals and is an environmentalist, NYS wildlife rehabilitator, and vegan. She and her son, Talon, spend as much time as they can outside engaging with nature, sharing their home with their three cats, Sunset, Storm, and Zen.
Ms. Sprague will be honored at the group’s Celebration of Hope Brunch on Nov. 20 which will be held at The Powelton Club.
To learn more about Fearless!, go to fearlesshv.org.