Teachers at two high schools and one elementary school were recent recipients of the CEF (Catholic Education Foundation) Teacher Award for excellence in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville.

The awards, sponsored by Dan and Helen Ulmer and family, were given April 29 to Kathleen Hall of Presentation Academy, 861 S. Fourth St.; Rosanna Vessels of St. Xavier High School, 1609 Poplar Level Road; and Diane Whoberry of St. Stephen Martyr School, 2931 Pindell Ave. The awards were presented at the schools.

The three — who have taught in Catholic schools in the archdiocese for more than 60 years — are among 19 teachers who have received the CEF Teacher Award since a new round of awards was initiated last October.

Hall is leadership coordinator at Presentation, where she has been on the faculty since 1980. Overall, she has 45 years of teaching experience and previously taught at Catholic schools in Maryland and Ohio.

Her nomination for the award said Hall has been an innovator in leadership education, and as coordinator the leadership program has “become a hallmark” of Presentation.

Hall wrote and implemented a leadership seminar for juniors and seniors, and she also oversees and plans leadership days, an eighth-grade leadership forum, a summer leadership camp and shadowing and mentoring days for students, the nomination noted. Hall “empowers Pres students to discover their unique gift for leading,” the nomination added.

Vessels is chair of the theology department at St. X, where she has taught since 2002. She previously taught at Holy Rosary Academy.

Her award nomination said she has “a thorough knowledge of the material taught” in the theology department and “stays abreast of recent developments in the field.”

Vessels has been instrumental in developing “a collegial atmosphere” in the department, the nomination said. “She collaborates with colleagues and the leadership team in the design and implementation of a curriculum that supports the mission of the archdiocese, the Xaverian Brothers and St. Xavier High School.”

Whoberry teaches fourth-grade math, science, social studies and religion at St. Stephen Martyr, where she has taught for 23 years.

She works “to make math real” for students, her nomination said. Students learn about economics and business practices, culminating in forming a candy company in which students become stockholders, manufacturers, quality control persons and salespersons.

In social studies, students do research and bring to the classroom what they learn with exhibits of colonial days, portraying famous Kentuckians and giving presentations based on their research, Whoberry’s nomination explained.

In science, Whoberry involves students in demonstrations and experiments, and she “encourages students to be Peacebuilders and incorporates this in her religion class,” the nomination added.

The CEF Teacher Award recognizes teachers who consistently surpass expectations, have creative teaching styles and serve as a positive influence on students. Recipients must be certified in Kentucky with a minimum of five years teaching in the archdiocese.

Recipients receive a work of art and $1,000.

Teachers are nominated by their schools. The award is to be given to a teacher in all elementary and high schools in the archdiocese.