Bobbie Ehrlich, a fifth-grade teacher at Belmont Elementary School, has been named the 2021 Scottish Rite Distinguished Teacher of the Year, a prestigious award presented annually to a Lincoln Public Schools teacher. It comes with a cash prize of $10,000, donated by Lincoln Scottish Rite Masons through the Lincoln Scottish Rite Preservation Foundation.

Ehrlich learned of the honor during a surprise announcement at Belmont on Tuesday. Belmont fifth-graders and their teachers met in the gym for what they thought was an end-of-the-year assembly - instead, it was a celebration of Ehrlich and all she has done for students and families. On hand were representatives of the Scottish Rite, LPS Superintendent Steve Joel, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources Eric Weber, and members of Ehrlich's family, including her parents and husband, Jerome Ehrlich, a former Belmont teacher.

"I get to share this with the most important people in my life - my family and my family,” Ehrlich said. “My Belmont family and my family. I’m very appreciative of the opportunity every day to do what I believe i was put on this earth to do.”

Ehrlich has taught for 32 years - all of them at Belmont. She’s entrenched in the Belmont community, having now taught multiple generations of families and serving on the Belmont Community Center Board.

She also has served on countless LPS committees and is active at Lincoln North Star High School. She helps organize the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Rally and March and is a teacher sponsor for the TRACKS Scholar Empowerment program at Belmont, a student leadership development program.

“I can't think of anyone more deserving of the Scottish Rite Award than Bobbie,” wrote Belmont Principal Kim Rosenthal in her nomination letter. “Education is her life. She is passionate about teaching and learning. Bobbie is positive with students, families and staff. She makes those around her feel successful and empowered.”

Ehrlich will be honored again during a special event in the fall at LPS District Office, where she’ll be featured along with past winners on an interactive display located outside the boardroom