Mansour receives education honor

OMAHA — Creston High School graduate Mike Mansour is one of nine Catholic educators to be honored Sept. 15 at the 34th annual Archbishop’s Dinner for Education.

Each of the honorees will receive a $5,000 award. The event, to be held at the Embassy Suites in La Vista, offers an opportunity to honor the educators, thank those who support the schools and raise funds for the awards and for scholarships for low-income students. Dollars raised for scholarships are matched by the Children’s Scholarship Fund.

The awards are presented to administrators, teachers and inner-city teachers. Mansour is a 1998 CHS graduate and a graduate of Notre Dame University.

He began teaching at Jesuit Academy in Omaha in 2004. He has taught fifth grade and now teaches middle school science, social studies, math and religion. Jesuit Academy is an all-boys Catholic school serving students in grades 4-8.

The Rev. Thom Neitzke, the school’s president, said Mansour’s teaching and classroom management are “at the highest levels” that he’s observed. Mansour created Jesuit Academy’s website and has used his technology skills to enhance education.

Mansour spearheaded the Green Monkey project to teach kids about recycling and pollution reduction, an effort that has grown to incorporate businesses, homes and school.

Mansour also is an adjunct profession in Creighton University’s English department and has served as supervising teacher for 26 student teachers and aides for Creighton’s Magis program since 2008.