Lesley Starkey, who teaches at Congress Elementary School in Sturgis, has been awarded the 2024 John E. Oster Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award will be presented tonight at the Sturgis Area Community Foundation’s annual meeting at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.

Starkey, a Title 1 special education teacher, was selected by her peers and reviewed by an independent committee of community members and Sturgis Public Schools leadership.

Now in its 43rd year, the Oster Award recognizes a teacher in the Sturgis Public School District who demonstrates exceptional professional standards, dedication to education, and a strong commitment to the Sturgis community. The award honors the legacy of John Oster, a local attorney who held education in high regard.

Starkey has been teaching with Sturgis Public Schools since 2007. Her passion for track and field, which she competed in at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, brought her to Sturgis after graduation. In addition to teaching, Starkey has coached the high school track team since 2020.

Beyond her classroom and coaching contributions, Starkey has dedicated her time to expanding the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s adaptive program to include more students with disabilities. Starkey saw the program’s potential to benefit other students with disabilities and advocated for their inclusion. The program was initially designed for students in wheelchairs.

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation is a $30M foundation committed to serving the charitable needs of our community and enriching the quality of life for all people in the Sturgis area. Through philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, the Sturgis Area Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about now and for generations.