Those who make up the 16 finalists for the LEF Teacher Awards are all unique and bring something different to the table.
One of those educators is teaching her students to not take life for granted.
Nine years ago Cathy Duex received a devastating diagnosis.
“I am a breast cancer survivor of almost nine years,” Duex said.
Duex says she didn’t let it stop her from doing what she loved.
“If you think that everything is horrible it will be. If you can find something positive in the negative, you’re a survivor andI’m a survivor.”
Through treatments and then finally a clean bill of health, Cathy continued teaching science to high schoolers. Now she’s incorporating something different, making sure each student that passes through her doors knows that they can do anything they put their minds to.
“I want them to believe in themselves. I want them to feel confident about what they do. I have five grandchildren and we push the same thing,” Duex said.
From Chemistry to Physical Science and even her first love Geology, Cathy shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to let her love of science rub off on others.
“There’s so much out there to explore and I want the kids, they come in here and say ‘I never liked science untilIi met you’ and so I love it!”
In the game for 28 years and earning her first trip to the LEF finals, Cathy says this just goes to show that if you keep reaching for the stars, anything is possible.
