Fitzpatrick honored with “Get Your Good Out” Weiss memorial award
JOHNSTON, Ia. (May 31, 2022) — Jeremy Fitzpatrick was today awarded $1,000 as the winner of this year’s Daniel Weiss “Get Your Good Out” Memorial Award during an end-of-year Johnston High School staff meeting.
The award by the Johnston Community School Foundation recognizes a JHS educator or staff members working in art, drama, music or humanities who:
- Has a demonstrated ability to encourage and challenge kids to think beyond high school
- Encourages students to get out of their comfort zone and try different things
- Makes their classroom a safe space for students to be who they are at all times
- Has energy, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude that makes students excited to learn
Fitzpatrick, a JHS English teacher who’s also the high school’s speech and debate coach, and director of the fall play and spring musical, was nominated by his colleague, Jessica Dowell, a JHS world studies/history teacher.
“Jeremy goes out of his way to create space for students in his classroom, as well as every drama performance hosted by JHS,” Dowell wrote. “Jeremy finds roles for so many students who might otherwise be left out of the fun of a good dramatic production. He allows students to take on leadership roles and to take ownership in a space where the phrase ‘all are welcome’ truly means ALL.”
The award is in memory of Daniel Weiss, a highly-regarded JHS educator who taught and mentored students for more than 30 years. He refused to overlook or accept subpar performance or poor behavior in any student, and believed there is good in every individual. His life and his legacy challenge us to: “Get Your Good Out.”
This spring, Fitzpatrick directed the JHS Drama Department’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version). The JHS production has been named the winner of the state’s Outstanding Musical Production Award — one of the highest honors in this area.
In celebration of this honor, the JHS cast of Cinderella will perform an excerpt of its production at the 2022 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, to be held 7 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at the Des Moines Civic Center.
See related story: