Schools

LCHS Principal, 4 Others, Honored for Service

The PTSA Founders Day Award recipients were recognized for unyielding service to La Cañada Unified School District.

PTSA President Susan Dodge has outlined the accomplishments of the recent PTSA Founders Day Award recipients. 

Individuals who received honors last Wednesday include Principal Jackie Luzak and parents Christie Frandsen, Becky Lankey and Sue Wright, who earned the Continuing Service Award; and teacher Jamie Lewsadder, who earned the Honorary Service Award. 

Here is Dodge's description of each of the recipients: 

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Christie Frandsen - Continuing Service Award

Frandsen has served the La Cañada Unified School District for the past 30 years, as nine of her children attended La Canada schools. She is known for her work with the Reflections Program, serving as Reflections Chair at for 12 years, at LCHS 7/8 for 6 years, and at 9-12 for 4 years. She was an Art Docent at LCE for 22 years and taught folk songs weekly in her children's classrooms. She was chair of the 7/8 Career Day and served on the boards of Music Parents and Choral Parents. Frandsen was in charge of the Summer School Food Booth for three years and was the parent rep on several faculty search committees. She is involved in the community ecumenical Baccalaureate service honoring our high school graduates, serving on the committee for 10 years, chairing for the past three years; has been a Girl Scout leader for 32 years; and serves as a teacher and youth leader in her church.

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According to Dodge, Christie thanked , saying, "My 30 years here have been a joy, a blessing, and an honor for my family. This year I will finally graduate from LCHS with my youngest child. The Frandsen Family will miss being a part of LCUSD!''

Becky Lankey - Continuing Service Award

Lankey started her volunteer work in La Cañada 14 years ago when her son, Erick, was in Kindergarten at (he's now a Freshman at UC Santa Barbara, which is Becky's alma mater). Her daughter, Kara, is a Junior at La Cañada High. At LCHS, Becky served as the 1st Vice President Programs for two years, Treasurer for two years, and is currently Historian. A fan at LCHS calls Lankey "extremely dedicated." She also volunteered at LCHS 7/8 for four years as Auditor and 1st VP Programs.  She held a variety of classroom jobs at Paradise Canyon, including Room Representative, Art and Music Docents, and Library Volunteer. Lankey served for multiple years as Co-Chair of the Gift Wrap Fundraiser and Co-Chair of the "Fun Run." She also inflated and deflated numerous beach balls during her service as PCY Spirit Rally Co-Chair.

In addition to her involvement at the schools, Lankey has been a Girl Scout Leader for 10 years and is the treasurer for her troop. She also has been an officer of the Glendale/Burbank Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association since joining the group 17 years ago. She is currently serving on the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee and has enjoyed interacting with other members serving on the committee and learning about the district finances. Becky is an avid spectator at her children's sporting events, which include cross country, soccer, and track and field.  She enjoys exercising and travel, although travel usually involves a soccer tournament! 

Jamie Lewsadder - Honorary Service Award

Lewsadder is among the handful of current teachers who also attended LCHS as students. She returned to LCHS and joined the English Department in Fall 2008. Over the last three and a half school years, she has taught at the freshman and sophomore levels, advised multiple clubs, and managed the Comedy Sportz Improv Team. Lewsadder also serves as co-chair for the staff Sunshine Club and recently she co-created the new World Literature class for the sophomore level that aligns the history and literature courses.

Along with her duties of instructing the students, she also holds the TechLITE position and shares innovative ways for the classroom teachers to use technology with their daily instruction. She is regularly seen after school cheering and supporting her students in their extracurricular activities.

Her nominatior notes, "Jamie is involved in all aspects of the students' lives. She teaches at the highest level and is respected by students and staff." When she's not teaching, planning, grading, or cheering, she spends her time reading, riding bikes, following USC sports, or playing with her parrot named Jack. 

Dr. Jackie Luzak - Continuing Service Award

Luzak has served as a teacher, mentor, and site administrator in her 30 years as an educator. For the past four years, she has been principal of LCHS, two years each at 7/8 and 9-12.  While principal of 7/8, she started the boys' and girls' athletics program, entering our students into the 210 League where they compete against other local middle schools. She also worked with the Kiwanis Club to form a 7/8 Builder's Club, a feeder program for the High School Key Club, and implemented a formal GATE program for 7th and 8th graders.  As the High School Principal, her vision is to ensure that all of our students are academically prepared for whatever they wish to pursue after LCHS and that each of them is connected to our school through extra-curricular or co-curricular activities. She feels fortunate to work with an administrative team that makes decisions with students' best interest in mind and with a dedicated staff that provides a high quality education to our students.

A New York native, she received her BS in Education from SUNY Fredonia, an MA in Education from California State University, Los Angeles and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne.  In her spare time, she likes to travel, read, and snowboard. 

Sue Wright - Continuing Service Award

Wright began volunteering in the LCUSD in 1997, the year her oldest child (Mitch, now a college sophomore) entered kindergarten at . She held various positions in the PCR PTA, including stints as VP-Membership and VP-Communications, and has chaired the Music Docent, Reading Recognition, and Red Ribbon Week programs. She also served on the La Canada Flintridge Educational Foundation for 5 years and was president of the board in 2003-04, the first year the Foundation broke the $1 million mark in fundraising.

When her two older children moved up to LCHS, Wright followed their interests and got involved in the music programs. She twice chaired the auction for the Music Parents Association Annual Dinner Show and is heading up the popular Club LC jazz band fundraiser this year for the second time. She has been President of the Choral Parents Association for the past four years. When her current singer (son Tyler) graduates from LCHS this June, CPA will lose someone whose "leadership skills are remarkable and her ability to motivate and encourage people are inspiring," according to her nominator.

Her youngest child, Kelly, will graduate from PCR this year, and it's a good bet that Wright and her husband, Craig, will be involved in whatever activities Kelly pursues at LCHS. In the meantime, Wright has thoroughly enjoyed her activities in support of LCUSD, particularly meeting and working with so many committed parents who live in La Cañada. 

Editor' Note: Do you have a photo of the Founders Day Award recipients? If so, you may upload directly to this article, or email it to donna.evans@patch.com. Let me know who shot it and I'll attribute accordingly! 


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