Middle School's John Casey Named 2010 Thompson Award Winner
John Casey stands at center in red; at left are TimThompson, Nancy Thompson and Gretchen McNulty; at his right are Elaine Brownell and Christine Mackenzie
by Wendy Keeler, The Cape Courier, Sept. 11, 2010
In the first hour of their first morning back on the job on Aug. 31, Cape school employees greeted each other, took their seats at an all-staff meeting in the Cape Elizabeth High School cafeteria, and did what they usually do the first hour of their first staff day each year: cried.
This year may go down as the Kleenex-heaviest of all first staff days since 2004, when the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation began its tradition of bestowing two honors, the Elaine Brownell Award and the Tim Thompson Award, on staff members.
Longtime Cape Elizabeth Middle School Vice Principal John Casey, whose 21-year-old son Sean died as the result of an undetected heart condition last summer, won the nonprofit foundation’s Tim Thompson Award for “going above and beyond the call of duty in mentoring students in Cape Elizabeth.” Cape residents Nancy and Tim Thompson established the award in memory of their son, Timmy, who died in the summer of 2004 when he was 18.
“I am uniquely aware of how important it is to the Thompson family that this award continues to thrive, that Timmy’s spirit and presence continue to live on, and that adults who have dedicated their lives to working with students continue to be recognized for the positive, lasting influence they can have on those entrusted to their care,” Casey said. “When it came time to honor our son who passed away last summer, the decision was simple: We created an identical Timmy Thompson Award at Portland High School in Sean’s name.”
A 1974 CEHS graduate, Casey started teaching in Cape 30 years ago. He taught social studies and English for 20 years before becoming vice principal 10 years ago. For years, he also coached basketball and baseball and served as a student council advisor and Cape Elizabeth Little League and Babe Ruth volunteer.
People who work with kids have a special opportunity, he said at the assembly.
“Working with Timmy Thompson guaranteed that I never lost sight of the following key elements of any teaching platform: dedicate yourself to the needs of your particular age group; be flexible in your teaching and discipline; and, lastly, take the time to help students make sense of their lives while you are also striving to make your subject compelling to their individual needs,” Casey said. “When we do this, I believe we are all Timmy Thompson Award winners and we not only continue to honor [Timmy’s] memory but also ensure that the educational mission is real for all Cape kids.”
Casey received a glass apple and a $2,000 monetary award.