Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, May 26, 2005

Two Ringgold county area teachers received the Dekko Foundation Teach to Reach program awards at graduation ceremonies this year.

For the past 10 years, the Dekko Foundation has offered young people a voice in letting teachers know just how much they've helped them. Through the "Teach to Reach" program, the Foundation has encouraged graduating seniors to nominate a teacher who has connected with them in a particularly strong way and influenced their academic success, confidence and character development.

Named in the Mount Ayr Community school district was Pam HUDSON and Dick STEPHENS was presented the award for Diagonal Community high school.

Nancy ELMER, Amanda HYNEK and Sandra WHITE, members of the MACHS class of 2005, nminated Pam HUDSON for recognition through the program.

In her letter of nomination, Amanda HYNEK wrote: "Thirteen years ago, the three of us were recommended not to advance from kindergarten to first grade. Rather we became part of the half-step class classed "Junior First Grade." Who flunks kindergarten? I was so embarrasssed. Then I met my teacher, Mrs. Pam HUDSON. She mended my hurt feelings with her gentleness and restored my self-esteem by believing in myself. Through compassion and patience, she taught us the secrets for unlocking phonics and soon we weren't falling behind any more. In fact, we could diagram nonsensical words that were two feet long; cool stuff for six year olds."

HYNEK noted that HUDSON was diagnosed with cancer that year. "She knew how to help us win our struggle, because she fought along side of us to overcome her own burden," HYNEK wrote. "I never wanted to be left behind again, so I challenged myself in high school by taking post secondary classes at Southwestern Community College."

HYNEK noted that she will be receiving her AA degree of 62 college credits simultaneously with her high school diploma.

"Mrs. HUDSON made us believe we were the brightest, smartest kids in the whole world. Thank you, Mrs. HUDSON, for giving me my rough beginning a happy ending," HYNEK wrote.

"Jeering ex-classmates, when a child is kept behind in school, easily injures one's self-esteem," Sandy WHITE wrote. "I felt like a First Grade reject when I started Junior First Grade. It took a good teacher to help me overcome this stigma! Mrs. HUDSON wan'ts just a good teacher. She was a great teacher! Our group of eight was more like a family than a class and Mrs. HUDSON wwas our mom. She explained to us tht sometimes people have to take a step back in order to have momentum to spring forward. She taught us exactly how to do that.

"Some teachers fade away, but Mrs. HUDSON stuck with us ghroughout our school days. She was there to help us up when we stumbled and got us going again. I have gone on to achieve academic success as a two-year National Honor Society member and have earned 27 college credits while in high school. I believe Mrs. HUDSON is greatly responsible for my success."

"If it weren't for going to Junior First Grade and having Mrs. HUDSON as my teacher, I would never be where I am today," Nancy ELMER wrote. "She told us to give our best and we could be anything we wanted to be. She gave me self-confidence which has helped me through many years and struggles. She made learning fun."

ELMER shared a time they had a lesson about spending money and walked to Horne's Pharmacy to get ice cream.

"She treated us like individuals, not just another kid in class. I don't think of Junior First Grade as falling behind or not succeeding. I think of it as a great opportunity that others should have."

Like the other two students, ELMER has earned college credit while in high school. She has 26 hours of college credit and will have completed her freshman year of college by the time she graduates from high school.

Receiving the Teach to Reach recognition in the Diagonal Community school district was Dick STEPHENS. He was nominated by Gina GUNSOLLEY, Eric STARLIN, Joe WERNER, Brad BENTLEY, Jeremy SOBOTKA, Tangi CAMPBELL and Shaun WALKUP.

GUNSOLLEY read her nomination letter and presented the award to STEPHENS.

"The reason I want to nominate this person is because this teacher has nt only been our eduator but has also been our role model. He has taught us our basics for our lives and the basics for our science knowledge.

"He has been a great disciplinary teacher and has kept our interest all the years we've had him. He has always come up with neat ways for us to remember terms of vocabulary words. He wants us to have knowledge and he wants to teach. He makes class great and is a wonderful teacher.

"He came out of retirement to teach us again and we don't know of a better teacher that could have taken his place. Mr. STEPHENS deserves this award because of his great teaching and his desire to teach. Any student would be or is grateful to have this man for a teacher and role model."

Each teacher recognized through Teach to Reach receives a framed copy of his/her letter of nomination and a $1,000 grant from the Dekko Foundation for use in the classroom of their choice.

Each fall students at schools within Dekko Foundation's Iowa grantmaking area (Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Ringgold and Union counties) have the opportunity through their high school, to nominate a teacher who:

-- Caused them to be excited about learning.

-- Challenged them to do their best.

-- Helped them to believe in their abilities.

-- Gave them responsibility for their own learning.

-- Found ways to make learning understandable, and even fun, for students.

Receiving honorable mention for Teach to Reach across Ringgold county in 2005 were:

Diagonal Community Schools:
Shelly MASON, nominated by Joey FORD and Josh FORD; Nikki STARLIN, nominated by Robbie MASON; Shelly BENTLEY, nominated by A. J. CHRISTENSEN and Philip WARD.

Mount Ayr Community Schools:
Carol CASON, nominated by Debra WILSON; Joe CATANZARETI, nominated by Kegan BISHOP and Alana JOHNSON; Fay HOWIE, nominated by Chelsea CAMPBEL and Rachael LESAN; Ron LANDPHAIR, nominated by Bradley PRIEST; Frank MUELLER, nominated Beckey WHITE; John NEWTON, nominated by Haley BAKER; and Jim UHLENKAMP, nominated by Melissa SCHAFER.

The Dekko Foundation is a private, family foundation, based in Kendallville, IN. Its mission is to foster economic freedom through education. To accomplish its mission the Foundation works to improve education for children ages 0-18 and invests in the sustainablility of organizations what build assest in young people.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2012