Doss Herndon-Schepper, or “Mr. H” as he’s known, accepted the award at this year’s Promising Futures Gala.

For 14 years, fourth-grade teacher Doss Herndon-Schepper has been helping students learn, grow, and find joy at Carl Cozier Elementary. This year’s Gold Star Award winner began his teaching career as a paraeducator in a deaf and hard-of-hearing preschool in Bremerton. After returning to college to become a teacher, an internship brought him to Carl Cozier, where he’s served as a first-grade teacher, fourth-grade teacher, and math and literacy interventionist.

He was nominated by a Cozier parent whose two children have been students in his classroom. It’s a fitting recognition for an educator who describes teaching as “intense, rewarding and dare I say entertaining!”

BPSF’s Gold Star Award celebrates Bellingham School District staff who go above and beyond to make school a joyful, welcoming, and supportive place for students. The award includes a $500 personal award and a $1,000 classroom grant to help keep students engaged and learning.