Warsaw Schools Announce Employees, Teachers of the Year
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
For the first time, Warsaw Community School Corp. announced not only its building teachers and teacher of the year, but also its building level support employees of the year and district special services employee of the year candidates for 2011-12.
The teachers and employees were recognized and honored at a special reception Monday night at 6 p.m. in the administration building.
Wendy Long, ESL K-12 director for WCS, said this was the first year Warsaw Schools recognized its staff in three separate areas. She thanked sponsors Warsaw Education Foundation, Lake City Bank, The Boathouse, WCS Food Services for helping to honor the employees.
“One of my favorite quotations is from Katherine Graham, American newspaper publisher,” Long said. “‘To love what you do and feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun?’
“As we gather this evening to honor the ‘best of the best’ in Warsaw Community Schools, I believe, above all else, that these individuals love what they do and we are all recipients of their joy. In each of their unique ways and job duties, they exemplify our new Warsaw Community Schools mission statement ‘to inspire and equip all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others.’”
Long then made the announcement of the candidates and winners in each category.
Gloria Reichard, an English Language Learner instructional assistant at Lakeview Middle School, was named the support employee of the year for 2011-12.
Lincoln Elementary School nurse Sarah Garcia was recognized as the WCS district special services employee of the year.
Nate Howett is a seventh-grade science teacher at Edgewood Middle School. Howett was named the WCS teacher of the year. He will go on to compete for the state title of teacher of the year.
In addition to the recognition and plaque, the Warsaw Education Foundation awarded Howett a $100 gift card to help him put together his state competition portfolio.
To Howett’s surprise, his family had waited outside for him to receive the honor.
Among the many attributes bestowed upon Howett in his nominations for teacher of the year were “encourager,” “dedicated”, “creative” and “leader.”
WCS Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz concluded the ceremony by stating, “This is not a popularity contest. This is something from the heart.”
