WASHINGTON -- Mary Dorn doesn't like drawing attention to herself or her volunteer work at Monument Valley High School.
Still, she was named one of the nation's 12 "education heroes" by the Clinton administration Thursday."There are many unsung heroes of education in America," said Education Secretary Richard Riley before he gave Dorn and the others their awards.
"We have selected 12 of them to receive the 1999 John Stanford Education Heroes Award," Riley said.
"These outstanding citizens exemplify what all Americans can do when they are committed to our children and to better education."
Dorn declined requests for interviews from the press, even with prodding from Education Department officials to grant them.
"She's a very humble person and just doesn't feel it's right to talk about herself," Education Department spokeswoman Sarah Staley said.
But to honor Dorn's life, Riley and Education Department information sheets told about some of it.
"When Dorn moved from Kansas City (five years ago), she didn't know exactly how she could help -- she just knew she wanted to. Since then she has become an integral part of the school and community," a Education Department fact sheet said.
"She provides the school with all of its nursing needs and gives much-needed medical help to the Navajo reservation where she lives."
It adds, "She does CPR training for local companies, Head Start and the high school staff. She runs the school store, usually driving 340 miles twice a month to stock up on supplies."
And when teachers must attend training or workshops, Dorn takes over in their classrooms.
"She even bakes cupcakes, cooks sloppy joes and plants flower gardens as part of her indispensable role at Monument Valley High School," the Education Department said.
The awards, named for a former Seattle schools superintendent known for efforts to inspire communities to improve schools, are chosen by a committee representing national education associations and the Department of Education.
They are designed "to honor parents, teachers, principals, members of community or religious organizations and employers from across the country who have undertaken exceptional activities to help improve education."