After successfully implementing four CEEF grants in as many years, Cape Elizabeth High School music teacher Tom Lizotte was on the receiving end of another type of CEEF award this August. Mr. Lizotte is the 2007 recipient of the Brownell Award, in recognition of his "innovation and excellence in the creation and implementation of multiple grants." According to Elaine Brownell, fellow teacher for whom the grant was named, Lizotte, "epitomizes the term and role of mentor. His quiet yet infectious enthusiasm, his passion for his chosen field, and his devotion and dedication to bringing opportunities and valuable experiences to his students have been his trademarks."

As a member of the music department and in particular the teacher and inspiration behind CEHS's very successful jazz bands, Lizotte has found ways to integrate music with other aspects of the high school curriculum, illustrating the connections between music, history and social change. "

Lizotte's latest CEEF grant was awarded in the spring of this year and will be implemented this October. Members of the nationally known jazz ensemble, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra of Boston, will hold a residency at the High School, and perform a concert illustrating their special interpretation of the music of Duke Ellington.