The West Chester Rotary gathered for its annual Vocational Service Awards on October 24 at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting to recognize excellence in education and specifically the educators whose daily actions embody the Rotary motto, Service Above Self.
Four Butler Tech educators were recognized for the impact they make every day. Their Teacher of the Year nominations were submitted for Rotary consideration, and many of the remarks shared during the ceremony came directly from those heartfelt nominations.
L-R: Valerie Folz, Crissy Lauterbach, Sally Muenchen, Brian Grody
From the Bioscience Center, Healthcare Science instructor Sally Muenchen received the Vocational Service Award for her dedication to shaping future healthcare professionals. Her nominator described how she holds students to the highest standards while guiding them with compassion and purpose, helping them find pride and professionalism in every task.
Brian Grody, who teaches Engineering for Butler Tech at Madison High School, was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation for the quiet, steady leadership that defines his teaching. His students say he teaches them far more than engineering. In moments of challenge, even when a robot fails or a project falls apart, Grody models resilience and responsibility, showing his students what integrity looks like in real time.
From the School of the Arts, Valerie Folz, Butler Tech’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, was celebrated for transforming her classroom into a space where civic engagement and creativity collide. Her “Register to Vote” campaign and Social Justice performance projects help students see that history isn’t just studied, it’s lived.
And for Crissy Lauterbach, Butler Tech’s Instructional Team Leader Coordinator, the morning brought a surprise. She was awarded the Liberty Fellows Medal, recognizing nearly three decades of service to Butler County education and her commitment to guiding others with kindness, professionalism, and humility.
Their stories serve as a reminder that at Butler Tech, transforming lives doesn’t stop with students. It begins with teachers who lead with purpose, compassion, and a belief in the power of education to change the world.