‘HEART OF LEARNING’

Downingtown West teacher Jerry Nowak has been selected by DASD as its Citadel Heart of Learning award finalist

DOWNINGTOWN >> A teacher and coach has a “heart of learning.”

Downingtown teacher Jerome “Jerry” Nowak has been selected as a 2017 Citadel “Heart of Learning” award finalist. Nowak is a tech. ed. Teacher at Downingtown West High School in the Downingtown Area School District.

All the school districts in the county select one winner from all nominated teachers. Downingtown selected Nowak, who has taught in the school district for 41 years, according to district officials. The selected teachers attend a dinner hosted by Citadel, and Citadel selects one county winner.

Nowak was recently honored this year by a former student who endowed a $5,000 scholarship in his name with the Downingtown Community Education Foundation. That student, Brett Gerry, is now the current president of Boeing Japan. Gerry, a 1989 graduate, was a member of the cross-country track team coached by Nowak during his four years at Downingtown High School, as it was known prior to its split into Downingtown East and Downingtown West.

Gerry called Nowak a terrific coach and mentor and said he believes that Nowak made him

“Coach Nowak was a terrific coach and mentor, with an understated style and smile. He made us not only better athletes, but also, I believe, better people, both through his guidance and most often, through his example.”

- Brett Gerry, a 1989 graduate of Downingtown High School

a better athlete and a better person through his guidance and example.

Gerry wrote a letter of his great respect and admiration for his former coach.

“We won two Ches-Mont titles and qualified for the Pennsylvania State Championships my senior year,” he wrote. “Coach Nowak was a terrific coach and mentor, with an understated style and smile. He made us not only better athletes, but also, I believe, better people, both through his guidance and most often, through his example. He taught everyone who ran for him the importance of perseverance, sportsmanship, decency and respect for others, and, above all else, humility. I am supporting this scholarship both to commemorate the long career of a superb educator, but also to support the worthwhile cause of encouraging students to pursue technical and vocational training after graduation. I am convinced that it is a national priority to support the development of STEM.” STEM stands for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Nowak graduated with a B.S. from Ball State University and received his Master’s of Education from Millersville University.

SUBMITTED PHOTO – DOWNINGTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT The Downingtown Education Foundation announced the creation of the Jerome Nowak scholarship for $5,000, the gift of a former Downingtown High School student who wanted to remember his coach. Pictured from left to right are: Downingtown Area School...

SUBMITTED PHOTO Downingtown West High School teacher Jerry Nowak has been selected as a 2017 Citadel “Heart of Learning” award finalist in the Downingtown Area School District. He celebrates with staff members.