Jan Graves receives Excellence in Education Award
The Marble Falls Education Foundation recently announced longtime Burnet County educator Jan Graves as the recipient of the 2023 Excellence in Education Award. Courtesy photo
Longtime Burnet County educator Jan Graves recently received the 2023 Excellence in Education Award from the Marble Falls Education Foundation. The annual honor is presented to exceptional members of the community who have gone above and beyond to enhance and transform the lives of students through education.
“Jan embodies the true spirit of the Excellence in Education Award, and we are honored to recognize her extraordinary contributions,” said foundation Executive Director Jenna Jette in a media release. “On behalf of the Marble Falls Education Foundation, we invite all Mustang fans and members of the community to join us in congratulating and expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Jan Graves for her unwavering dedication to our students and communities.”
Graves graduated from North Texas State University five decades ago. She received her certification to teach kindergarten from Southwest Texas State College and first served as the Burnet County Home Demonstration agent, instructing rural women on homemaking and social skills, before becoming a kindergarten teacher in the Marble Falls school district.
Graves touched the lives of countless students and taught at various Marble Falls locations, including the Old Granite School that now houses The Falls on the Colorado Museum, a former teen hangout known as the Hide-Out, and the former Primary School where the MFISD Central Office is today.
“Mrs. Graves set the tone for my school experience,” former student Katie Savage said. “Every day I went to her class, I was happy, excited to learn, safe, and loved.”
Graves has continued to impact members of the community since retiring by serving 18 years on the Burnet County Child Welfare Board, an entity that provides support to foster children and their families. She is also a member of the Highland Lakes Retired Teachers Organization and Alpha Chi/Delta Gamma International.
“Jan Graves is the heart and soul of Marble Falls ISD,” Dr. Jeff Gasaway said. “Her steadfast dedication, boundless enthusiasm, and immeasurable impact on generations of students and the community makes her an irreplaceable cornerstone of our district.”
Graves also taught Sunday school for over five decades, helps stock food at her church’s pantry, and teaches adult religion classes at a local prison.
“Jan epitomizes the spirit of education and service, and her legacy will forever resonate within the halls of Marble Falls ISD,” Gasaway said.
Outside of educating and volunteering, Graves is an avid button collector and a member of the Bluebonnet Button Club. She is also well-known for her delicious peanut brittle.