Campbell has a love for special needs students
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
From her students to fellow teachers, in her decades of teaching, Sandra Campbell has impacted countless lives.
Campbell, who is a significant support needs teacher at Ayres Elementary, is only in her third year at the school but she has been teaching since 1984.
“Sandra Campbell has been an excellent addition these last few years. She is making great strides and gains with the students she works with She is firm and consistent, but loving towards all of them. The way Sandra interacts with her students has made me a better teacher in my own classroom,” her Crystal Apple Award nominator, Kacy Hickam said.
Campbell knew she wanted to be a teacher starting in the sixth grade and she always wanted to teach special education.
“I get to be with them for a longer period of time, especially doing this job The kids here, I’ll be with most of them for three years, so you get to know them better and enjoy the victories as they come,” she said.
2024 Crystal Apple
She enjoys being with the kindergarten through second grade students at Ayres in particular because she has the opportunity to watch them blossom.
“That year between preschool and kindergarten is such a year of growth and then by the time I send them on to Campbell in second grade they have grown and expanded their knowledge base so much, not only academically but socially and interpersonally,” Campbell said.
Her favorite part of the job is the hugs her students give and their unconditional acceptance
It’s not only the students’ lives she’s impacting though.
“When not working with her severe special needs students, she is always making sure the staff feels loved. She is always giving a hug when you need it and takes her limited time to talk and listen to how you are feeling. If you need help, she is there. I know she has little time and resources in her classroom, but she always stays positive and offers help when she can. She is a wonderful teacher, coworker, and friend and I am blessed to work with her every day,” Hickam said.
The 2024Crystal Apple awards are presented by the Sterling Journal-Advocate and South Platte Sentinel to educators and employees at local school districts who are recognized by their peers for their extraordinary work
Honorees
Sandra Campbell, Ayres Elementary. 2
Shane Browning, Campbell Elementary. 3
Marybeth Skerjanec, Sterling Middle School......4
Shaneen Lockman, Sterling High School. .6
Kathy Owen, Caliche Elementary..........................6
Sandra Campbell, asignificant support needs teacher at Ayres Elementary, goes above and beyond to help her students succeed
Daniel Hoppe, Caliche High School. 7
Deb County, RE-1Valley Schools 8
Mindy Meier, Hagen Early Childhood Center. 10
Lorie Gosser, RE-1Six12Online. 11
Sue Dreyer, Fleming Schools 11
Kristy Schneider, Merino Elementary. 12
Sarah Lambrecht, Merino High School. 13
Samantha Ewertz, Peetz Preschool 13
Kaitlyn Foos, Peetz High School. 14
Melissa Bornhoft, Northeastern Junior College. 15
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Copyright 2024, Prairie Mountain Media
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Browning helps his students and school shine
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
For over two decades, Shane Browning has touched the lives of young students in RE-1 Valley School District as an elementary teacher.
Browning started his teaching career in Montana, fourth grade for seven years and sixth grade for one year. In 2002, he and his wife, who is from this area, moved to Sterling and he began teaching in RE1, where he is now a fourth grade teacher at Campbell Elementary.
“There probably are very few hours that you will not find Shane Browning at Campbell Elementary working at some capacity. Along with his normal hours at Campbell, Shane spends numerous after-hours helping his students, calling parents, preparing for his classes, and painting at the school. Shane even makes home visits to deliver work and/or visit with parents to make sure his students have what is needed to be successful in his class,” said his Crystal Apple Award nominator, Beverly Schonfeld.
Browning didn’t always know he wanted to be a teacher. “It just kind of fell into place,” he said While in college in Montana he played basketball and ended up earning a teaching degree, “It wasn’t in blood or anything I thought of, it just kind of fell in my lap.”
When asked what he enjoys the most about his job, he said there’s not really a bad part, he likes the kids, the parents, his colleagues, and the administration. A positive attitude is key for the longtime teacher, who always starts every day believing that it’s going to be a great day because if you think that “then that’s what it will be.”
Parent involvement has become a big part of how Browning runs his classroom. At the beginning of the school year, he handed out a flier to his students’ parents at an open house inviting them to attend a special meeting with him, where he shared his expectations and together they developed a social contract and planned to meet several times throughout the year.
Browning explained the parent social contract ties into what the school has been doing with social
contracts for students and teachers. He wanted to take a step further and get the parents involved, asking them to come up with rules for the year Browning said this has made it easier in the third and fourth quarters when parents can start to come unglued and teachers may be getting frustrated with certain things.
“The reason why I did it and I like it is because it kind of eliminates that feature where everybody’s kind of at their wit’s end. I figured if I established the contract and we came up with the rules then by the time the third and fourth quarter comes it makes it a whole lot easier. I find it easier for me to call the parents and talk to them about certain situations or behaviors that come up, it makes that transition easier for me,” he said.
When the parents asked for more community engagement activities, Browning planned activities around specific holidays. On Halloween, he brought in hay bales, a balloon arch and enough pumpkins for his class and their guests to carve.
“Everyone had a Spooktacular time that beautiful fall Sunday
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Shane Browning, a fourth grade teacher at Campbell Elementary, helps both his students and his school shine Behind him is one of many walls he has painted at the school.
For Skerjanec, teaching is a calling from God
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
Marybeth Skerjanec didn’t set out to become a teacher; in fact, she fought against it. But now, as she prepares to retire following a transition year in 2024-25, after having touched countless lives, she knows it’s something she was always meant to do.
Skerjanec has been at Sterling Middle School for 17 years. She is currently an eighth grade language arts teacher but has also taught math, science, PE and even a typewriting class long before the age of laptops and computers.
“I never wanted to teach. It’s a calling from God and I tried to avoid it as much as I could,” she said.
One of nine children, her father was a teacher so the family knew the struggles of being in public education.
“He told me if I went into teaching he’d break both my legs, so when I graduated from college he gave me a set of crutches,” Skerjanec recalled with a chuckle. “It’s not something I ever really aspired to do, be a teacher, it’s just what I do. It’s just what gifts God has given me.”
That she would end up teaching middle school students was another surprise. A member of the last class that attended the old Sterling Junior High, she hated her junior high years and the first two years she taught at SMS, she survived but never really enjoyed it. That all changed when her son became a middle schooler.
“Then it all made sense oh, I get it now I understand they’re just beasts unto themselves and once you just accept that then there are some really great moments you can have with a junior high kid,” Skerjanec said.
Teaching language arts was a perfect fit for her though, given that she loves to read. When she was a student at Sterling High School, she took as many reading and writing classes as she could from Frances Gillespie.
“I’m not a good writer, I’m better than I used to be, but it’s to me the truest way of expressing and I just
love reading. If I can hook a kid, life just becomes easier if you enjoy reading. Every job you have, every path you take, if you read and enjoy it, it just makes it a more enjoyable path,” Skerjanec said. “This is kind of a passion and if you don’t have a passion for the subject you teach it doesn’t make your job enjoyable.”
Her passion has been passed on to many students who have developed their own love of reading and writing thanks to her
“Many times middle school students are very reluctant to become interested and involved in learning; and to say the least, to become interested in language arts. Marybeth uses a balance of reading, writing, vocabulary, and discussion in her classes to keep the interest and attention of her students. She truly mastered the skills necessary in helping her students improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills while
constantly checking and assessing students’ work and providing feedback to students when needed,” said her Crystal Apple Award nominator, RE-1 Valley Superintendent Dr. Martin Foster.
One of the highlights of the year for both Skerjanec and those in her class is her annual Forum of Famous Faces, where students bring a variety of historical figures to life.
“It’s an eight-month project and they get up there and when they’re successful and I’ve given them that confidence to grow in who they are and their abilities to express themselves, that’s a real high when I get to see that final product out of them,” Skerjanec said.
Dr. Foster pointed out that she will often create content to instruct her students in reading, writing, and grammar to meet the individual needs of some of her students who need help. Plus, she coordinates as lead teacher and mentor
with her teaching team members to assist and support them in becoming better teachers.
“My daddy raised me, he said ‘If you’re not a part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.’ If I went home and complained about something, it was literally, ‘What have you done about it? What are you doing to take care of it?’ So, I’ve always tried to instill that in my work life; if someone’s having a problem, well if I’m someone who can fix it then I should step up and try to fix it or I should find someone who can. That taking care of each other is a huge part of it,” said Skerjanec, who in addition to her teaching duties has been involved as president of the South Platte Education Association for a number of years
When not teaching, you can find her helping coach the SHS volleyball team, something she said started as a totally selfish endeavor.
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Marybeth Skerjanec, eighth grade language arts teacher at Sterling Middle School, poses for a photo in front of a wall filled with postcards and other trinkets given to her by former students, evidence of the countless lives she’s impacted
Skerjanec
FROM PAGE 4
It was the first full school year of the COVID-19 pandemic and she realized she probably wasn’t going to get to see Ali Schumacher play during her senior year, a girl she’d known since she was born. So, she went to Coach Lisa Schumacher and told her she would volunteer to be at every game and help out
Browning
afternoon,” Schonfeld said.
Then, at Thanksgiving time Browning and his class, with a little help from the third grade, made 125 placemats to give to Sterling Health and Rehabilitation Center, Devonshire Acres and Harmony Home
“I’m sure the elderly appreciated the little messages handwritten on each one,” Schonfeld said.
More recently, for Valentine’s
however needed.
“I so enjoy just being with those kids in that setting. I don’t need any pay for it, I just get to be there in the sport that I love with girls who want to play and watch one of the best coaches in the state do her thing. She is so phenomenal at her job and it’s a privilege for me to volunteer to be one of her coaches,” Skerjanec said.
Going back to teaching, she said her favorite part of the job is when her students come back or send her a message telling her ‘I get it
Day, Browning and his class visited Walmart and handed out some sweet sentiments to shoppers.
He says that he sees the activities as a way to “get more people involved so they see what the kids are doing” and as something to “spread something positive out in the community.”
Browning hopes to keep expanding it so it gets bigger every year. Next year he wants to do something with CPR and plans to get not just his class but the whole fourth grade involved
Not only is he making an impact on the lives of students in his class-
now; I didn’t understand before but I get it now’ and the acknowledgment that something that she taught them stuck
“It’s phenomenal when you get to do that and see that growth when they become adults,” Skerjanec said.
She truly enjoys when she gets to see her students later on in life become parents, go to their weddings, see them graduate from college, go on to become a master electrician, join the military, etc
“Those are phenomenal suc-
room, but this six-foot-nine teacher is literally leaving his trademark all over his school with various painting projects
“Shane loves to paint and has such an eye for color. He loves Campbell Elementary so much and wants everyone who enters to love it too! He has touched every wall throughout our school in the past two years and just keeps rolling on,” Schonfeld said, sharing that he’s even painted at Ayres Elementary too.
Browning explained that his paintwork started when someone gave him a fish to hang and he de-
cess stories; to see those kids and that they remember where they came from, it’s awesome,” Skerjanec said.
There’s no doubt about the impact that this teacher has made in her nearly two decades in education.
“Marybeth Skerjanec is truly one of the very best teachers I have had the pleasure of working with during my over 40-year career as a teacher, middle and high school principal, and superintendent of schools,” Dr. Foster said.
cided that his wall needed to have a background to go with it He’s since expanded outside of his classroom, even painting a tiger mural near the school’s cafeteria, with a little help. Now, he has big plans for the entrance of the school, including a Campbell Elementary sign in the form of a crossword puzzle and the school’s mission statement
The teacher is also working with the Bank of Colorado on some window safety improvements.
“I figure if (the school) is rejuvenated and painted it might spark a little bit of other things to come,” Browning said.
STERLING HIGH SCHOOL
Lockman makes sure all students get to eat
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
For over a decade, Shaneen Lockman has made sure that RE-1 Valley School District students get a meal
Lockman, who is currently the cafeteria manager at Sterling High School, started in the district on Sept. 1, 2015. It was a job that found her. One day when she went in to pay her daughter’s lunch bill at Sterling Middle School ,one of the cafeteria workers, Sandy Spahn, asked her if she wanted a job and her response was, “why not?” She came on as a substitute cook and within two weeks she had a fulltime job
“I love it,” Lockman said. “It’s a very rewarding job; it’s hard work but very rewarding.”
For her, the best part of the job is being able to see the kids every day and she goes above and beyond
Owen gives special needs students a safe place to land
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
For over two decades, students in RE-1 Valley School District with special needs have had Kathy Owen, who is currently a special education teacher at Caliche Elementary, supporting them and helping them grow.
This is Owen’s 25th year in RE1. She didn’t always want to be a teacher, in fact, she’s done many things besides that. Then one day her daughter, who was a paraprofessional at Stevens Elementary, mentioned they had a position open. Owen loves kids, so she thought, why not?
“Kathy Owen has worked as a teacher’s assistant in special education for over 20 years. Kathy is dedicated to the students that she works with Over the years, Mrs. Owen has supported and
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Shaneen Lockman, cafeteria manager at Sterling High School, makes sure students get a healthy meal every day
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Kathy Owen, a special education teacher at Caliche Elementary, provides students with a safe place to land.
LOCKMAN » PAGE 9
» PAGE 9
CALICHE HIGH SCHOOL
Hoppe helps students become productive citizens
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
Daniel Hoppe has always strived to do his civic duty and now he’s making sure future generations do, too, as he helps them become productive citizens.
Hoppe is now in his seventh year as a social studies teacher at Caliche Jr./Sr. High. He likes the school because of its rural setting and the fact that it’s small, allowing him to get to know all the students and families and establish relationships with them.
His inspiration for becoming a social studies teacher came partly from his parents, who “really emphasized doing your civic duty.” But also when he was in college he studied U.S. history and was involved in youth groups, and through that he found his passion: “doing my civic duty and trying to help students become productive citizens.”
His favorite part of the job is working with the kids and interacting with them in class.
There’s no question he chose the right path.
“Mr. Hoppe is a great teacher. He is fair with all of his students and always ensures they have a complete understanding of what they are learning Mr Hoppe keeps his students engaged and offers brain breaks throughout his classes,” said one of his Crystal Apple Award nominators, Haley Ralston.
Another nominator, Annette Virgilio, said “he not only goes above and beyond with his students to make sure they get the most out of their education with him,” but also helps his colleagues learn things as well “Not only is he an amazing teacher, I have never seen him get mad at his students. He has never in my presence even raised his voice to a student. He is the kindest person I have ever met and makes everyone feel so special.”
A third award nominator, Crystal Jo Bruns, said he goes above and beyond for his students.
“He creates an environment in the classroom that makes kids want to learn,” she said.
As part of his teaching style, Hoppe allows his students to submerse themselves into history and
a bit “outside of his wheelhouse” when he first started, but says he has enjoyed learning how to do the different projects that are part of the STEM (science, technology, math and engineering) maker space class and teaching the students.
“It’s been rewarding and fun to do that.,” he said.
Additionally, he works tirelessly as Caliche High School’s Student Council advisor.
“He holds his council to the highest standards. He encourages those involved in the council to be inspiring leaders for Caliche. He provides them with endless opportunities to prove to themselves and their school the leaders they can truly be,” Bruns said.
Hoppe says he enjoys working with the student leaders and executing the big events they put on and is excited to revamp the council into a class next year, focusing more on leadership.
“Hopefully that will have an impact on the school culture as well,” he said.
government by doing a lot of simulations. You can often find his students role-playing things like the Continental Congress or congressional hearings, not only because it’s fun and the students enjoy it but because it gives them a little bit more real-world practice too.
“They get to interact with each other, they have to collaborate with each other and they have to use what they learned in class to actually perform, so it’s kind of a fun way for the students to learn,” he said.
According to Bruns, Hoppe’s classes have a lasting impact on his students, with some of them so inspired by him that they are pursuing a degree to follow in his footsteps as a history teacher.
Hoppe also stepped in to become Caliche’s digital art instructor when he saw the need for students to have more elective options.
“The crafts his students produce through 3-D printing, vinyl decal
work, and more are amazing He pushes his students to be creative and think outside of the box. He supports their ideas and makes them feel like they can accomplish anything they set their minds to,”
Bruns said
Hoppe admits digital art was
Not only does Hoppe do all the things mentioned above without blinking an eye, but Bruns shared that he often works in the background and allows other staff and students to take the spotlight
“Dan is one of the kindest souls you will ever get the pleasure of knowing. He inspires me daily. His dedication to Caliche is something to behold. I can not think of a better person to win the Crystal Apple Award,” Bruns said.
JOURNAL-ADVOCATE FILE PHOTO
Daniel Hoppe, social studies teacher at Caliche Jr./Sr. High School, helps students become productive citizens
RE-1 VALLEY SCHOOLS
County a trusted resource for all financial matters
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
Deb County never set out to have a career in the school finance world; it happened simply because she was in the right place at the right time. But a strong work ethic and a passion for what she does have gotten her to where she is today, a trusted resource on all financial matters for RE-1 Valley School District.
“Deb County, RE-1 Valley School’s CFO (chief financial officer), does not give 110 percent, she gives 210 percent. Deb is a valuable resource for not only financial matters but also has an understanding of the underlying needs for staff and students while being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars,” said her Crystal Apple Award nominator, Assistant Superintendent Brenda Kloberdanz
County started with RE-1 in a part-time capacity when she was a sophomore at Northeastern Junior College in December of 1984. Gene Stumpf was the business manager at the time and he was good friends with one of County’s business teachers, Bob Plank When he needed someone to start putting the film library on computer Plank suggested County.
That opened the door and from there, County was brought on fulltime in June 1985 in the accounts payable position, which she held until 2004 when she moved to payroll. She stayed in that role until 2007 when she went to NJC for a brief stint as controller. Then, in July 2012, County, who went back to school as a non-traditional student to earn her bachelor’s degree, returned to RE-1 as chief accountant, a position she held until she retired in 2018
When the CFO at the time was ready to retire, County knew because of her prior experience at both RE-1 and NJC that she was, “ready for that next step, not only physically but emotionally. I knew deep down that I could do the job because of my knowledge base.”
After what she thought was the end of her finance career she spent time enjoying retirement and also substitute taught until July 2022,
Deb County, interim chief financial officer for RE-1Valley, is a trusted source on all financial
when she was asked to come back in a part-time status to help the CFO at the time better understand school finance and get the district on a positive path. She returned as interim CFO after the previous individual resigned in October 2022.
“I want to be able to fix it. Not only do I have friends who are employees of the district, but I’m a taxpayer, I want to make sure things are done correctly Can we fix everything 100 percent? No. Can we get us on the right path? Absolutely,” County said about her decision to come back after retirement, adding that having the confidence of people who wanted her to come back was a true honor and being able to work with Superintendent Dr. Martin Foster again was “a true blessing.”
Reflecting on her long career in school finance, she said there’s a passion for it but also comes from the strong work ethic that her parents instilled in her. County attributes her success not only to her parents but to the high school and college teachers who supported her, the organizations she was involved in including Future Business Leaders of America and Phi Beta Lambda, and all of her supervisors, who she learned a lot from.
There are plenty of challenges to be sure: the School Finance Act, the impact that declining enrollment has on funding and changing property taxes, not to mention learning to understand the needs of the five different superintendents she’s worked under throughout her career.
“It’s very stressful and I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs with the district, lots of enrollment increase, lots of declining enrollments but if it wasn’t for the great team of educators that we continue to work with, where would we be?” County said.
When she’s not busy figuring out how to balance the budget for next year you can find County helping judge district and state FBLA. It’s a way for her to give back and spend time working with kids. She loves getting to see the “ah-ha moments” when things click for them.
County has also officiated high school volleyball for 37 or 38 years now, as well as college volleyball, and was accepted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference a
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
matters.
County
FROM PAGE 8
couple of years ago thanks to great mentors
“It’s a passion of mine, that’s my hobby. How can I teach something to someone else how to be a better official? We are so short on officials as it is but it’s a love that I have developed,” she said.
Outside of that, she loves to golf, attend concerts and go to Denver Broncos games.
In her professional life, County has always strived to be a team player.
“I try to be the best supervisor I can and I want to be that teacher as well,” said County, who is a firm believer that you have to work for everything you get in life and have a passion for it
As evidence of her strong work ethic, Kloberdanz shared that County can be found working beyond her contracted hours to make sure RE-1’s financial obligations are in order.
“She works closely with the entire district to support the mission and vision of the district. Her work has given the district a true financial picture to RE-1 build plans for the future. She has worked to guide us through grants and policies to add value to our schools. Her knowledge of educational finance will help the district with long-term strategic budgeting and maximizing our capital resources, ” Kloberdanz said, adding that, “it has been a pleasure to learn from Deb’s leadership.”
Lockman
FROM PAGE 6
to make sure all of them get fed.
According to her Crystal Apple Award nominator, Lucas Scott, when he approached her to see if the school could provide breakfast and lunch for students enrolled in the Six12Online program, which is offered to SHS, SMS and Caliche Jr./St. High School students and meets at SHS, she didn’t hesitate to make it happen despite the program being on a different schedule than SHS.
“Most students in the program work from home only, but there are 15 to 20 students that attend in person. Logistically, it is a pro-
cess to figure out how to feed students from multiple schools in one school. Shaneen did not care about this issue whatsoever. She said ‘All that matters is that all students get fed,’” Scott said.
Lockman kept breakfast open later for Scott’s students and opened lunch earlier for them. She even provided take-out orders for the students who didn’t make it on time for breakfast and lunch
“We’re feeding our future; I’ve got to take care of them so they can take care of me. I believe every child should have a meal,” Lockman said.
That’s not the only time she’s gone above and beyond to make sure all students get a meal Lockman was part of the district food service team when the COVID-19 pandemic hit After schools were
forced to shut down, she and her fellow food service coworkers made free meals in the SHS cafeteria to deliver curbside at the school to students and families. There were some scares when people started thinking they were a COVID testing site but Lockman and her coworkers did what was needed
“It was pretty hectic but we made sure the kids were fed,” she said.
The work she does has not gone unnoticed by her colleagues.
“Mrs Lockman cares about students, and is willing to go to whatever measures necessary to ensure they have full bellies while they are here at school,” Scott said. “She is an amazing asset to Sterling High School and I am glad that the Six12Online Program is able to work with her.”
FROM PAGE 6
loved some of the most difficult students in the district. She approaches them with kindness, empathy and compassion while providing them a solid, predictable, safe place to land,” said her Crystal Apple Award nominator, Gena Karg
Her love of the children is the reason she’s stayed in the district and in the education field all these years. Owen recalled a particularly touching gesture several years ago when the students made containers with little notes in them saying what they liked about their teachers; one note
said, “You helped me when nobody else did and were there for me.” She knew she couldn’t leave after that.
For Owen, working with special needs students is something she has personal experience with as she herself fell in that category and so do some of her family members.
“I’ve kind of been where some of them are, so I kind of know how they react to different things,” she said.
Owen greatly enjoys getting to work with students in kindergarten through sixth grade, which gives her a chance to watch them grow up and because it’s such a small school, she even gets to see them graduate.
Her favorite part of teaching is
“when you get those little ah-ha moments like, ‘Oh, that’s how you do that.’”
It’s clear that she has made quite an impact on her school, not just amongst the students but her colleagues.
“As a co-worker, she is respectful and holds others to the same standard. Her work ethic is impeccable,” Karg said, describing her as someone who is inviting and encouraging for all students “She is prepared for her day and looks forward to seeing her littles each morning Caliche Elementary teachers look to Kathy for guidance with behavior plans and motivational techniques to meet the needs of their students. Kathy Owen is the model of what a Crystal Apple winner should be.”
HAGEN EARLY EDUCATION CENTER
Meier helps preschoolers get off to the right start
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
For little ones and their families who are just entering the school system for the first time, it can be a bit daunting. Fortunately for students at Hagen Early Education Center, interim child find coordinator Mindy Meier is there to help ensure they get off to the right start.
Meier always knew she wanted to work with children and she especially loves the preschool age because they’re durable and easy to teach, plus “they keep you on your toes.”
She has been at Hagen for five years now. Meier previously worked for RE-1 Valley School District in the ‘90s before spending 25 years in Sidney, Neb. She had planned on semi-retiring after leaving Sidney but she just missed the kids and teachers too much, so she decided to come back when she saw the position at Hagen was open.
Her favorite part of the job is meeting the families, who are all different. In her line of work, she’s come to see that parents “really do want the best for their kids” and knowing how hard it is to be a parent in the world we live in right now, she wants to make it just a little easier.
In her years back at the school she has definitely made an impact.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award than Mrs. Mindy. Mindy is often the first person for preschools and their families to meet. She always goes the extra mile to make sure they feel welcome and that they are taken care of,” said one of her Crystal Apple Award nominators, Jamie Wright.
She went on to share that Meier is continuously looking for new ideas and ways to help students be successful and support the school’s teaching staff.
“She is often a work on her days off, just to make sure everything is finished. You can always reach her after hours if you need anything; she even calls and checks in when she is on vacation,” Wright said.
Another award nominator, Taylor Cowden, has had the pleasure of working with her for the last three
years at Hagen and has witnessed her “unwavering dedication to the children in our district. I have seen her constantly go out of her way to help students and their families above and beyond what her normal job duties consist of,” she said.
Cowden noted that Meier is oftentimes the first person a student meets before they start their experience with Hagan. A lot of the kids have never been to a school or any program outside of the home before, which can be a difficult adjustment but Meier “makes sure that every parent is confident in leaving their child with us.”
“She is always ‘on the move,’ going from school to school to help out whenever she may be needed. Mindy is always willing to do whatever it takes. She goes above and beyond for every coworker, parent and student! Mindy really is the glue that holds us together,” Cowden said.
Serving as the face of the school and the first person that families
meet in their educational journey can bring some pressure but Meier said she likes meeting the families. She is also well aware of the many stresses that families may be facing and wants to make sure school is not a stress for them.
“I want the introduction to school to be as easy as possible and (for them) to know they have an ally, a friend at school and I’ll try to help as much as I can,” Meier said
It’s not just students and families that she is there for though, but also her colleagues.
“I honestly don’t know what I would do without Mrs Mindy. She is always in my corner and willing to help me whenever I ask. We work well together and I just genuinely enjoy working with her. She started as a coworker and has become a deer friend. Mindy is a team player and I am so glad she is on my team. She puts her heart and soul into our district, our students and our families. She is so deserving of the
Crystal Apple Award,” Wright said. A third award nominator, Tara Gress, is currently working under Meier and said, “She makes sure to keep constant communication with me. She helps me whenever I have questions and she listens to my suggestions.”
She went on to share that she has seen Meier help a family who weren’t sure if they wanted their child to have services or even attend preschool
“Not only did Mindy help ease their mind about everything, she would send updates on how the child was doing to the parents. Mindy will do anything that is asked of her, especially when it comes to helping a child. I have seen her running from one school to another to make sure that students are getting what they need and the teachers are getting the support they need,” Gress said. “Mindy has a heart of gold and it shows with her interactions with the students and their families.”
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Mindy Meier, child find coordinator at Hagne Early Education Center, helps ensure students have a successful start to their educational journey
Gosser is an invaluable part of online program
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
It started as something to simply fill a few hours in the day but now Lorie Gosser can’t imagine leaving
Gosser is a teacher for RE-1 Valley School District’s Six12Online program. She got involved with the program about three years ago after a friend told her the district was looking for someone to work part-time. The hours were perfect for the retiree who was just looking
FLEMING SCHOOLS
for something to do for a few hours in the morning until her grandchildren got out of school.
“Every year she gets better and better,” said her Crystal Apple Award nominator Lucas Scott “She individually works with every student in the morning class to ensure each student gets the help they need and passes the classes they are working on.”
Gosser has lived in Sterling for almost 22 years and for 20 years
Dreyer keeps busy front office running smoothly
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
Bandaging boo-boos, making copies, taking care of the student activities accounting, watching teachers’ classrooms when they need to step out for a minute and sometimes just offering a friendly ear to listen. Sue Dreyer, registrar at Fleming School, does it all
“Sue is the perfect person to have in the front office of our school building Her positive interaction with students, parents, and other staff members has helped to develop a positive culture in the Fleming School,” said her Crystal Apple Award nominator, Superintendent Steve McCracken. “Her friendly demeanor creates a welcoming atmosphere Sue’s sense of humor and light-hearted nature is of great benefit in the front office.”
This is Dreyer’s 10th year at Fleming School.
“I just love it. I love the size of it, I love the people and the atmosphere; we are one big family,” she said.
When she and her husband moved to the area from Phoenix, Arizona, he had a job in Crook but she wasn’t working. Then one day while at Bully’s she met the
school/community librarian, Sandy Kinzie, who told her she needed to come in and check out a book. Dreyer did just that and when she got there, she found it was a bit chaotic because they were shortstaffed. Looking for something to do with her time, she decided the library would be a great place.
“When I came to Fleming, this was just an awesome change It’s really hard to believe there are still schools out here like this where we all care and we all chip in and we all have the belief that sometimes it takes a village,” Dreyer said.
A year and a half after she started in the library position, the school registrar gave her notice and McCracken approached her about filling the position, knowing that her background in customer service, accounting and as a general manager’s assistant made her a perfect fit. She didn’t hesitate to accept.
As the registrar, Dreyer serves as the face of the school and is knowledgeable about all the goings on.
“A lady in her position knows more about what’s going on in this school than any other one individual sitting in here because everything flows through there,” school
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Sue Dreyer, registrar at Fleming School, keeps the front office running smoothly
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Lorie Gosser, RE-1Valley Six12Online teacher, gives students the help they need to ensure they pass their classes
Schneider is irreplaceable as custodian
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
It’s an often overlooked position but custodians like Kristy Schneider at Merino Elementary play an important role in the school community
“Kristy is irreplaceable. She is dedicated to the students and staff and works harder than anyone I know. Kristy filled a position that had been, in my opinion, neglected for a while, and has absolutely blown our expectations away by being faithful to do what’s required of her while exceeding our expectations,” said her Crystal Apple Award nominator, Jessi Stumpf. Schneider has been at Merino for three years. She never thought she would be a janitor; instead, she started as a bus driver and was cooking for a while
Driving a school bus was something she loved doing and had previously done for RE-1 Valley School District in 2015 and then for Overland Trail Bus Lines, which provided in-town busing for RE-1, before taking a break to go to cosmetology school at Northeastern Junior College. She was thrilled to get back behind the wheel in Merino but after suffering a stroke in October she was no longer able to drive a bus, which deflated her. Yet, she still found a way to help her school by taking on janitorial duties
“I was hoping that if I did something a little more physical that it would encourage my doctor, my neurologist to allow me to go back on the bus and it didn’t work,” Scheider said. Nevertheless, she enjoys what she’s doing now.
“I never saw myself working around kids full-time. I loved driving a bus but when I came out here I kind of fell in love with the little stinkers,” Schneider said.
One of the things she enjoys most about Merino is that it’s a K-12 school, so she gets to meet all the kids and see them every day
“You kind of get attached to them,” she said.
While every day is different, Schneider does have a routine down. She comes in every day from
They just want to know that you’re going to be there no matter what,” said Schneider, who feels passionately that “anybody that works in a school needs to be there for them.”
Her favorite part of the job is the children, especially the “Hello Ms Kristy” greetings first thing in the morning, the funny compliments — “thanks for making the bathroom smell so nice,” one sixth grade boy told her — and the unexpected hugs.
“You can be busy doing something else and you get a hug from a kid in a random position you’re in. I was doing paper towels yesterday in a classroom and all of a sudden I had a hug from behind and then there were four more hugs. You can’t help but smile when they do that; it just makes your day,” Schneider said.
That’s not to say they don’t try her patience sometimes but the mom of four and grandmother of 13 wouldn’t have it any other way
“I get frustrated sometimes, I think we all do, and then you walk back in here and you hear some kid yell ‘Hi Ms. Kristy’ and it’s, you make it work and you fall in love with these kids,” she said.
A humble Schneider is quick to give credit to others who she feels play a much more important role in her school.
“I don’t feel like I deserve this (award) as a janitor. I think that there’s a lot more people that deserve something like this. I just do my job, that’s all,” she said.
But, it’s clear that Merino Elementary wouldn’t be what it is without her.
10 a.m to 6 p.m and starts off in the cafeteria getting it ready, then does lunches before moving on to take care of her classrooms.
“I do like it a lot. It’s fun; it’s in-
teresting. It’s sometimes hairpulling, and sometimes you just have to laugh and just remind yourself they’re just kids and sometimes they just want to grow up too fast.
“She doesn’t expect thanks for doing her job, which is why I believe she is the most deserving of this award Kristy is blunt, honest, and fair, and it’s refreshing to be around her It’s been an honor to get to know this woman and watch her set a higher standard. She is always willing to pitch in where there is a need, and she is the kind of person I know I can count on to help out when asked Kristy will also anticipate and meet the need before being asked, and that kind of quality work is something to be celebrated and honored,” Stumpf said.
COURTESY PHOTO
Kristy Schenider, custodian at Merino Elementary, works diligently to keep her school shining
MERINO HIGH SCHOOL
Lambrecht encourages civic engagement
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
Growing up Sarah Lambrecht’s parents made sure she had plenty of exposure to history, yet she never really thought of it as a career Fast forward and she has now spent nearly two decades as an integral part of the Merino Jr./ Sr/ High School community, making remarkable contributions to the school’s educational environment as a high school social science teacher.
and encourages civic engagement among our youth, preparing them to become informed and responsible citizens,” said her Crystal Apple Award nominator, Superintendent Lonnie Brungardt
Lambrecht comes from a long line of teachers who have worked in elementary and secondary education. She decided to follow in their footsteps because she found herself wanting to provide enrichment opportunities so that she could help prepare her students to follow their dreams.
Lambrecht’s decision to become a social science teacher, specifically, was inspired by her mother Growing up her parents would always take their children on family vacations that often included visits to museums, historical sites, or natural parks. At the time, she found it boring and thought of them as just another “wasted” trip.
government.
PEETZ PRESCHOOL
“Sarah has continuously challenged our students to engage in subjects such as government, history, and civics in an unbiased manner. Through her teaching, she fosters critical thinking skills
Ewertz helps lay foundation for even the littlest Bulldogs
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
A child’s early years are crucial for their development and fortunately for the littlest Bulldogs at Peetz School Samantha Ewertz is there to help them grow.
Now in her third year at Peetz and her second as director of the Little Bulldog Preschool program, Ewertz has been involved in early education since the age of 17. Before coming to Peetz, she worked at Hagan Early Education Center a couple of different times, did home daycare for 11 years, was a paraprofessional at Ayres Elementary and worked at two different daycares.
Working with little kids wasn’t the career path she envisioned When she was in high school she wanted to do something related to food, possibly be a dietician. But then she got pregnant with her oldest child and started working at a daycare. It was when her oldest started preschool at Ha-
gen, where Kathy Miller was director at the time, that she first thought about going into education as a career after Miller told her she would make a really good para and mentioned that they had an opening.
“I loved it, loved the kids,” Ewertz said.
The transition to preschool director at Peetz happened when the previous director got pregnant and decided she wanted to stay home. Ewertz decided she was ready to make the leap.
“I just kind of fell into it,” she said “It’s kind of the best of both worlds.”
School officials at Peetz who nominated Ewertz for the Crystal Apple Award pointed out that although the preschool sits isolated from the rest of the school, Ewertz “contributes to the mission and vision of Peetz School District by laying a strong foundation of academic skills, social-emotional readiness and the Bulldog Family mind-
“Whether it be joining the workforce, military, technical school, or college, I want them to have the skills necessary to pursue those dreams and not settle for anything less,” she said.
Fast forward to when her mom became one of her social studies teachers at Sterling Middle School and she saw how she made the content “come to life” for her students. The students would arrive to her classes with a fixed mindset that they already knew they were going to hate it but by the end, those same students, who never had the
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Samantha Ewertz, director of the Little Bulldogs Preschool, helps lay a strong foundation for Peetz School’s littlest students.
COURTESY PHOTO
Sarah Lambrecht, social science teacher at Merino High School, inspires her students with her passion for history and
Foos helps her students grow inside and outside
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
At Peetz School and elsewhere, Kaitlyn Foos has gone above and beyond to make sure students have the resources they need
“Kaitlyn could be a poster child for flexibility within a school district! First hired for third grade, then moved to sixth grade classroom teacher, we finally have her rooted as the head of our junior high English and language arts teachers for sixth through eighth grade. In each position she exhibited high standards and exceptional instructional approaches which led to her students growing positively in their academics each year,” Peetz School officials said in their Crystal Apple Award nomination for her.
Before coming to Peetz, Foos taught seventh grade English at Sterling Middle School.
Being a teacher wasn’t always a career goal. When she graduated from high school, she initially went to school for nursing to become an RN. Then she and her husband got married and had a child, and she found that the schedule didn’t work out very well with a baby and she didn’t like how much time she was away from her children.
So, she took some time off and stayed home with her children. Then when she went back to school to finish her degree, she called an advisor at the college she was enrolled in and they talked to her about her interests. That conversation led her to pursue a career as a teacher
When it came to what area she wanted to teach, English was a natural fit as she loved those classes when she was in school and credits her English teacher at Sterling High School, Nancy Kugler, with being a lot of her inspiration for becoming a teacher
“Once I had kids I knew I wanted a schedule that kind of matched theirs and I just love teaching and junior high are my favorite because they’re just so weird, never the same day They’re a lot of fun,” Food said.
She doesn’t just teach English though, in her award nomination, Peetz School officials shared that
Foos’ passion for creating experiences for her students outside of the classroom allowed her to partner with fellow teachers to produce theatrical productions with junior high students over the last several years.
Last December, she helped with the school’s “A Christmas Carol” production, which was perfect since her class does a unit on the classic around Christmas time, and last year she helped the fourth, fifth and sixth graders stage “Kid Frankenstein.”
“That was a lot of fun. It was a blast watching them and they did a really good job. The drama side of it is a lot of fun, it’s kind of hard to teach kids to enjoy it so getting them to be involved in it kind of opens that door,” Food said.
She also partners with high school English teacher Jacqueline Walters to assist with the National
Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society.
Plus, Peetz officials mentioned that she manages the delivery of the school’s Xello, a college and career readiness program, for the junior high as well, and has worked diligently to set up job shadow opportunities so eighth graders can experience a potential career years before having to make that decision
As part of that, her sixth grade students will give career presentations, seventh grade students will do an in-house interview day and eighth graders will be going to Sidney, Neb., for a career exploration day, where they will be matched to the careers they’re interested or as close as they can get
Food explained that through the Xello program students are able to take different assessments each year related to learning styles, in-
terests, skill building, etc. and it will match them with jobs that are in their areas of interest. Students can also search jobs and look at colleges and technical schools or watch podcasts featuring interviews with people at large corporations.
For Foos, her favorite part of the job is the students, the things she never expects them to do or say, and also seeing them develop an interest in reading and writing
“A lot of kids kind of start school saying they hate reading or they hate writing and then when I get that one kid who finally is like ‘I can’t put this book down,’ that’s really cool,” she said.
It is clear that she makes a difference at her school
“We are grateful for her dedication, drive, and influence she has for and on our students here Peetz,” school officials said.
PEETZ JUNIOR HIGH
CALLIE JONES — JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Kaitlyn Foos, Peetz Junior High English language arts teacher, helps students develop a love of reading
NORTHEASTERN JUNIOR COLLEGE
Bornhoft is the go-to person for faculty, students
By Callie Jones cjones@prairiemountainmedia.com
Melissa Bornhoft is an invaluable asset, not just to the students, but also to the staff at Northeastern Junior College
“Her exceptional skills and unwavering dedication make her the go-to person for anyone seeking assistance in Monahan Library and Learning Center. Be it answering queries, providing solutions to problems, helping with scheduling, or simply lending a patient ear, Melissa’s expertise and willingness to help others are unmatched,” said Michelle Hawkins in nominating Bornhoft for the Crystal Apple.
A graduate of NJC, Bornhoft has been working at the learning center since 1996, advancing through various titles to become the current assistant director. Before coming to Northeastern, she worked at Colorado State University and when the family relocated back to Sterling she took a year off after her daughter was born. When she decided she needed to return to work, an open position at the learning center caught her eye.
Asked why she’s chosen to stay at NJC all of these years, she had multiple reasons: “The people I work with, an awesome team that we have, the interaction with students.”
Her position is one of many hats Not only is she the lead scheduler on campus, helping build class schedules for students to register for courses, but she also does all of the scheduling of the learning center assistants and professional tutors, ensuring that students have tutors available at times most convenient for them. Plus, she works tirelessly to secure the TRIO Student Support Services grants that ensure the MLC remains fully funded As part of that work, Bornhoft must report all of the students that the center serves each academic year and keep track of all of the students served for the prior four years to let the government know what’s happening with them.
“Despite her busy schedule, she always makes time to cater to last-minute requests, going above and beyond to ensure everyone’s
ments that they may not be able to find and is a wiz at Sharepoint.
“Melissa is also very caring and helpful. I always go to her for help, and she’s always able to help or we figure the problem out together. I see her as a mentor here at NJC. I have learned so much from her, about NJC, navigating NJC, working with students, and so much more,” Cranwell said.
Yet another award nominator, Julie Rhodes, described her as an amazing coworker, who goes above and beyond in all the work that she does but also makes sure that all around her are taken care of,
“She is selfless, honest, kind, diligent, dependable and extremely knowledgeable,” Rhodes said
According to Rochelle Lenox, Bornhoft is the backbone of her department and her work ethic is unmatched.
“Melissa is the person who does all the unseen work to make our college successful. No matter how big or small the ask Melissa will get it done! And will go above and beyond to support others so that they can be successful. She is so patient, knowledgeable, humble, an amazing problem solver, and extremely generous with her time. We are so lucky to have her!” Lenox said.
needs are met,” Hawkins said.
Bornhoft is also the lead for FLAC processing, ensuring that all faculty and instructors get paid for whatever classes they’re teaching. Plus, she is a representative with the Colorado Community College System in several different roles including FLAC, Rural College Consortium, Colorado Online and schedulers
She says her favorite part of the job is working with the staff and the students and getting to have that interaction, as well as seeing the success that the students have. She enjoys being able to help with the issues that arise and working with students and staff across campus.
Her colleagues agree they would be lost without her
“Melissa is not only a hard and dependable worker for whatever
task is in front of her, to the point that we have to remind her to take lunches, but she also helps me with all my little questions with wonderful patience. She motivates me to be a better worker and to respect the time she gifts us for help. She has an amazing knowledge of systems, and is great to learn from,” said a second Crystal Apple Award nominator, Nathan Renshaw.
“No matter how many reports she’s working on, how many grants are due, or how many emails she needs to respond to, Melissa always makes time to help students and staff, and always does so with a warm and friendly face,” added another award nominator, Maria Roberts.
A fourth nominator, Rebecka Cranwell, shared that Bornhoft helps her fellow employees navigate NJC and administrative require-
Rachelle Davis pointed out that no matter how busy Bornhoft is, she is never too busy to help anyone in need
“Whether it falls within her job duties or not, she will drop what she is doing and help us find solutions to our problems. Melissa is not only fantastic at her job, but she has a way about connecting to people. She cares about the people around her in a way that makes every person around her feel like they belong and are doing a good job. I legitimately mean it when I say, if she ever leaves the place would fall apart. She is the glue that holds us all together,” Davis said.
For Hawkins, one of the most remarkable things about Bornhoft is her calm demeanor, “which puts people at ease and makes them feel heard. Furthermore, her ability to promptly find answers to any questions and follow through on commitments makes her an NJC rock star.”
COURTESY PHOTO
Melissa Bornhoft, assistant director of the Monahan Learning Center, is the go-to person on campus for Northeastern Junior College
Lambrecht
FROM PAGE 13
opportunity to travel and visit those establishments, were excited, curious, and wanted to learn about the topic.
“I began to appreciate the gift of those trips and was inspired to do the same in my classes. I try to inspire the passion I have for my content to challenge my students to awaken their curiosity,” Lambrecht said.
Inspire she does. Brungardt points out that her extensive knowledge in this field enriches the educational experiences of her students, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
“Sarah’s palpable passion for teaching is evident in her interactions with her students, as she effectively connects with them on a meaningful level, creating an environment conducive to learning and personal growth,” he said.
Brungardt went on to share that her leadership as the sponsor of the Student Council is exemplary.
“She consistently exceeds expectations, going above and beyond to create opportunities for our students to excel and positively impact our school community. Her guidance and support have played a crucial role in shaping our Student Council into a dynamic and effective organization, empowering students to take on leadership roles and make meaningful contributions,” he said
According to Lambrecht, it was
Ewertz
FROM PAGE 13
set in each of her preschoolers.”
For Ewertz there’s so much to enjoy about getting to spend her time with the littlest Bulldogs every day
“I like that they don’t really have a filter, they just say what they mean and I like that they’re fascinated by every new thing, so that makes it a lot of fun coming to work Their excitement just makes it a lot of fun for me,” she said.
Along with getting to be with the children, she also enjoys being able to co-teach and work with
early in her career when she volunteered to be the sponsor and she very quickly realized how the school was such an essential component of the community
“It’s important for my students to demonstrate good citizenship, integrity, communication skills and practice developing their leadership skills. Our organization is student-led and we have done a variety of activities/events over the years in which our students, faculty and community members really step up As the saying goes, “It takes a village to help raise a child” and in this case achieve our goals,” she said.
Among the things she enjoys most about her job is having the privilege to teach students in various classes throughout their high school career and build relationships with her kids.
“Running into them after graduation and meeting their families, hearing about their successes, or even how they have become good human beings, it’s nice to feel like you had just a little bit to do with that The longer I am in the profession, I realize that my students are teaching me, as much as I am teaching them. I am very grateful for the opportunity.,” she said.
And her school is very grateful for her
“Her tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to our school community make her an invaluable asset, and she serves as a shining example of the positive impact that can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and a genuine passion for education,” Brungardt said.
other early childhood professionals.
While she’s only been at the school a short time, it’s clear that she’s already made an impact at Peetz.
“Samantha Ewertz shows so many qualities that enhance the Little Bulldog Preschool program for the betterment of all students and her staff. She seeks out opportunities to be better at teaching and leading through research and professional development. She strives every day to make it the best day for her students and works to build not only on her students’ skills but who they are as ‘little people,’” Peetz School officials said.
Dreyer
FROM PAGE 11
counselor Randy Stahley said.
For her job being able to multitask is a must.
“The front office can be hectic and sometimes seem chaotic due to the wide variety of tasks and responsibilities she handles Sue’s ability to multitask and prioritize is crucial while managing the demands of a busy school office,” McCracken said. “It seems as if she can determine a student’s temperature, apply Band-Aids, fetch an ice pack from the freezer and answer the phone all at one time Despite the chaos, Sue is able to handle the challenges that come her way. Effective communication, organization, and her sense of humor play a key role in managing the craziness of the Fleming School front office.”
Dreyer enjoys her interactions with students, particularly when she teaches them how to make copies, often joking with them
Gosser
FROM PAGE 11
she has been in and out of the district as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional and even a resource room teacher at Sterling High School, filling whatever positions RE-1 has needed help with.
“Part of the reason I do this is because when you have a kid who’s just like ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do this’ and you explain it to them and that little light bulb goes on and they say ‘oh, I get it,’ it makes you feel like you’re helping make a difference in whether a kid hates their education or actually enjoys it,” she said.
In her position as a Six12Online teacher, she gets to work with students in grades six through twelve, which she enjoys because each age is “so unique.” Gosser describes the middle school students as enthusiastic and curious but also says they can be squirrely, whereas high school students are able to focus a little longer.
According to her award nominator, this year a teacher in the program fell ill for over a month and Gosser stepped in and worked full days to aid in the coverage of the afternoon classes.
that they can’t graduate unless they learn to use the copier — “it’s a life skill,” she said. But, she is also there as a friendly face.
“Some of the kids come to me and just want to talk; they’re having a bad day and I’ve got an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on,” Dreyer said.
She also enjoys getting to see the interaction between the younger students and older students.
“I love seeing the little kids look up to the big kids and big kids kind of mentoring the younger ones,” Dreyer said.
One of McCracken’s favorite things about her is her “ability to make people laugh and feel good about themselves.”
That’s a trait that Dreyer says many at her school have that she appreciates, being able to laugh and joke or take somebody who’s having a really bad day and turn it around.
“I just love it here. It’s close to home It’s something I’ve never done but I love it. I love the people, the kids, and the community and the fact that we all pitch in and help each other,” she said.
“I just felt like I was doing what needed to be done,” she said “You can’t just say ‘I’m sorry, there’s no education for you.’ You just do what you have to do.”
Throughout her years in education, she has always tried to treat her students as if they were her own children and “like I wish I would have been treated when I was in school,” she said.
Her favorite part of the job is getting to work one-on-one with her students. She is always able to find something different she likes about each of them.
“I like the interpersonal communication and the interaction with the kids, helping give them different ideas,” said Gosser, who finds it particularly useful if she can use her own life experience to help students relate to whatever it is that she’s teaching
There’s no question that she has made a difference in her school and her students’ lives.
“No matter what task, or how difficult the students are, Mrs Gosser excels at the task and the students love her for it. I recommend Lorie Gosser for the Crystal Apple Award because she always gives 110 percent to ensure her students are successful in whatever it is they are doing,” Scott said.