Don Mowry, 2008 "Commitment to Excellence" Recipient

Don Mowry is a third grade teacher at Cornell Elementary School. He is in his tenth year of teaching in the Okemos Public Schools and has absolutely loved every minute of it. He has also taught fourth grade at Cornell for seven years. Don's main focuses in teaching are to make every student want to be involved and also to be personally responsible for his/her learning.

Don has been an active volunteer in the district helping out with report cards, technology and other various committees. He has led both the Cornell Student Council and the Safety Patrol for many years, helping to develop leadership qualities in the students of Cornell Elementary.

Don has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in K-12 Administration from Michigan State University, and is continually adding to his education by working on 2-4 classes per year. Don and his wife of thirty years, Ruth, are enjoying life in the country, and also love to travel to faraway places. They have two children who are both living on the East Coast.