Matthew Hathaway’s (2000) labor of love in developing the Teachers in the Parks summer program has earned him national recognition as one of 46 recipients this year of the NEA Foundation’s prestigious California Casualty Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Hathaway, an elementary teacher in the Exeter Township School District, Berks County, founded Teachers in the Parks as a young teacher in 2004. Other teachers and school districts, particularly in the Berks County region, have joined in over the years.

“Teachers across Berks County earned this national honor,’’ Hathaway said. “Together, they have sent a clear message across Pennsylvania and now our nation that high-quality summer learning programs provide children a much clearer path to literacy and math proficiency.’’

Recipients of the Teaching Excellence award are nominated by their peers in NEA state affiliates based on their dedication to the profession, attention to diversity, and advocacy for fellow educators.