Kearney Presented Fletcher Brush Educational Outreach Award
St. Johnsbury Academy Driver Education and Traffic Safety educator Richard Kearney was presented the Fletcher Brush Educational Outreach Award during a ceremony in the house chambers at the Vermont State House. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) State Highway Safety Office event honored several law enforcement officers, first responders, and individuals for their exceptional work and commitment to keeping Vermont’s roadways safe for all users.
The Fletcher Brush Award is presented to an individual for outstanding educational outreach promoting highway safety priorities for Vermont citizens. This annual award honors Fletcher “Buster” Brush, who exemplified the notion of “service above self,” and is given to an individual whose dedication and commitment to highway safety through educating young and novice drivers in our state is at the highest level.
In his second year at SJA, Kearney is a member of several state, regional, and national organizations. He was recognized specifically for his work with the Vermont Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association.
When asked what the award means to him, Kearney replied, “I am truly honored to receive the award. This recognition is not just a reflection of my efforts but a testament to the incredible support I receive from St. Johnsbury Academy to continue in my leadership role and promote healthy driving habits.
“It is a privilege to work alongside such dedicated traffic safety professionals and driver educators who are equally committed to promoting highway safety in our communities. Our collective passion for educating young drivers and making our roads safer inspires me daily. Let’s continue striving for excellence together and positively impact the lives of our students and the communities we serve.”
Kearney is always looking for new and different methods to improve his teaching, including new and unique methods to connect the driving task to his students. Examples are his integration of algebraic and geometric principles to bring to life vehicle placement on the roadway and passion-based student projects that focus on driving safety.
In 2022, he received the “Vermont Driver Educator of the Year Award” and the “National Teacher of Excellence Award.” That same year, Rich presented his best teaching practices at the 2022 American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association conference. He has also earned several certifications through the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. This enables him to meet the needs of an underserved population of drivers.
He has served in leadership positions at the Vermont Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association and the New England Traffic Safety Education Association (VDTSEA). He has recently been installed on the Board of Directors for the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA).
Kearney’s passion for excellence and safety is not only evident in his teaching but also in his willingness to share his knowledge and mentor others. He regularly gives presentations at conferences and workshops at the state, regional, and national levels, serving as a valuable resource to his fellow teachers. His expertise has been sought after on multiple occasions, making him a subject matter expert on various traffic safety issues.
Headmaster Dr. Sharon Howell said, “We are so fortunate to have a teacher of Richard Kearney’s caliber at St. Johnsbury Academy. The list of his professional accolades is long and distinguished; he is respected and admired by his peers; and he is an innovator and leader in his field. I am beyond impressed by his devotion to students, particularly those who have challenges that might make it hard for them to learn to drive. Most wonderfully, though, Richard Kearney is convinced that everyone should have fun with Driver’s Education—and brings equal doses of play and gravity to his work every day. We congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition from the State of Vermont.”
(Photo Left- Barbara Brody, Executive Director of VDTSEA, Right- Joseph Barch, Past-President of ADTSEA)
