LATEST
PRESS RELEASE
April 7, 2025

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Caitlin McGaffick, 3rd grade teacher at DR, wins the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellowship Award.

The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation has announced their teacher recipients of the organization’s 2025 Teacher Fellowship awards. Teacher Fellowship awards of $6,000 were presented to 100 teachers in Wisconsin who were nominated for their leadership and service in and outside the classroom, their ability to inspire a love of learning and to motivate their students.

We are excited and honored to announce that Divine Redeemer 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Caitlin McGaffick, has won the Herb Kohl Foundation Teacher Fellowship Award. This is a huge honor and accomplishment. Divine Redeemer also receives a matching grant of $6,000.

Some recent parent surveys demonstrate the excellence Caitlin brings to DR:

“Mrs. McGaffick is wonderful! I'm so thankful for the way she has accepted and celebrated our 3rd grader.”
“We have a great relationship with his teacher and feel that she really addresses his individual needs and is receptive to different strategies to support him. He now looks forward to going to school again and says, ‘Mrs. McGaffick actually makes math fun!’”
“Mrs. McGaffick is incredible, if there is a teacher of the year it goes to her!”
“Academically she provides a loving caring environment while balancing our daughter’s love of school. She fosters an environment that kids and parents can thrive in school. Her personality is very approachable and kind.”
“Mrs. McGaffick has been fantastic for our son…She has even initiated communication with shout out emails…which means a lot to my son. He KNOWS she cares about him.”
“Mrs. McGaffick, she has been such a blessing to our daughter. She is so caring and understanding. And is always willing to listen to help our daughter succeed.”

About the Award

“Herb Kohl believed that education is the key to the future of Wisconsin and our nation,” JoAnne Anton, President & CEO of Herb Kohl Philanthropies said. “That’s why he invested in and prioritized awards that recognize students, teachers, and principals who demonstrate incredible hard work, achievements, and service. We hope this year’s awards help this impressive group of recipients in their individual pursuits today so that they pay it forward in the future. We call that the Herb Kohl Way.”

Award recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Cooperative Educational Service Agencies, and Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation.