Jennifer Lopez, a fifth-grade teacher at Greywolf Elementary School, was honored with the Shipley Center Impact Award sponsored by First Federal during “Breakfast & Books” on June 15.

She was nominated by Michelle Rhodes.

Pictured, from left, are Rhodes; Lopez; Michael Smith, Executive Director of Shipley Center; Melanie Pilgrim of First Federal; Greywolf principal Donna Hudson, and Shipley Center board president Brian Jackson.

Lopez, coworkers say, has worked above and beyond her classroom duties by creating family engagement nights where she covers topics of interest to families.

“Also, she has been leading the planning of and collection of books for the year end family breakfast with books event,” Rhodes added in her nomination letter.

“Each student and their siblings are sent home with at least six books to read over the summer. This year she was made aware of a grant via the Molina Foundation that provided 1,800 books for this year’s year end breakfast and other needs within the school. Once aware of the opportunity, she wasted no time writing the grant, making contact with the local Molina representative who offered to cover the shipping cost for the books, and Mrs. Lopez made sure that all requirements were met once the books were received to fulfill the grant requirements.”

Lopez also wrote a grant last year to receive specialized books to help all students who struggle with reading. She maintains the books in her classroom, and checks them out to students through out the year.

“She is an amazing educator in the classroom, inspiring her students in many ways.”