Some of you know my wife is an Elementary School Teacher. Since we got out of college in 1990, she has taught 1st and 2nd grades. She also has her Masters of Education in Early Childhood Reading, and recently had moved into a new position as the 1st grade Reading Teacher, working with kids that need the most help.

Anyway, a few months ago she received the honor of "Teacher of the Year" for our school district. This was really a great thing as our district is pretty large and there are lots of teachers that were on the list. Elementary teachers usually get beat out by junior/high school teachers. In winning this title, she had to write a 20 page paper that answered 10 questions. In addition, this honor also throws you into a larger bucket for the State of Iowa's Teacher of the Year.

To be honest, she really wanted to fly under the radar a bit, and really didn't think she had a chance in hell to get close to Iowa honor. She also had to pick 3 people to give her a letter of recommendation. Her Principal told her to include the Superintendent of Schools, otherwise, she would not have any chance at all. She really didn't know the guy as he had only been with the district for a year, and he new nothing of her teaching style. So to reduce her chance, she purposely did not use him, and picked 3 Principals she had over the years.

OK HERE WE GO>>>>>>>

She got a call the other day from the Iowa Board of Education, she is in the top 5 and has to interview this Friday. You all need to understand, we have 99 counties in Iowa, and some counties have larger cities with many districts in them. We are estimating that she was up against 150-200 other qualified teachers, and she got in the top 5, oh my.....

If she gets it or not, she still has to speak at a banquet in the Spring, and she hates public speaking. Besides I don't have a dang Suit or Sportcoat that fits me anymore

Oh well, thanks for listening, and if you have any words of encouragement or ideas to help her it is appreciated.

Thanks Randy and Karen

I forgot to mention, if she gets the Iowa "Teacher of the Year" she will be a qualifier for the US "Teacher of the Year" and will get to go to the White House. Oh My

Please help us get out of this mess

Good show, Karen! Randy you certainly have a right to be proud of what she's accomplished.

Wow!

First off, heartfelt "Thank You" to Karen for heeding the call to teach our children. Nobody can excel in that role without having a deep love for both the kids and the work. Very few of us can fully realize the emotion and the commitment it takes to do it at all, not to mention to do it so well. She is helping build the future of our country and our world, and for that, has earned our gratitude and respect. I know that she knows she is making a meaningful difference every day, but it's still nice to be recognized.

I work for public educators, so I have some frame of reference. I trust your wife is a member of Iowa Education Association. Civil rights, human dignity, education, unionism - all these things have always gone together.

As far as advice, she doesn't need it. The rest of the process is just going to be her talking about her work, which she obviously knows and loves. Tell her to relax, feel and express her passion for teaching and, most of all, savor the experience.

Finally, just buy a damn suit. Mens Wearhouse or whatever. Maybe get a haircut while you're at it. How are you going to be the First Husband looking all scruffy?

Seriously, congratulations to Karen and to your family on this tremendous honor.

BRAVO!

Wow, this is absolutely wonderful Randy!

Please give Miss Karen a big hug, a kiss on the cheek and a huge dose of good luck from down our way.
Having met many educators such as your wife over the course of our son's years through school we have always been amazed with the true dedication many posses, which obviously your wife does. Best wishes!

I too wish your wife the best of luck.I echo the statements made before me.

Yes, definitely some congratulations and good luck are in order. You must be very proud of her. I agree with Tom that you should tell her to savior the experience -- it's not nearly often enough that excellence is education is recognized.

Oh, and please let us know how it all turns out.

Congratulations and, yes… Good Luck!

I wish Tom posted his comments in a different forum; I could simply plagiarize by copying and pasting. There's no way I could say it remotely as well!

Congratulations Karen and Randy! My wife taught for 7 years and specialized in early reading as well. There are not many jobs that are tougher or more important than teaching children to read. It is especially tough to get through to those children who are already behind the class in reading. Good luck!

Amazing, you guys are truely great friends. I have will make sure Karen gets a chance to read your feedback. Then she will realize why I stay up so late and chat with you folks, and maybe let me upgrade to a EP600

Again, thanks so much for your comments, I appreciate it greatly.

Randy

Man, you sure know how to work it, don't you. On a serious note, though, congratulations and good luck to your wife. We all know just how much this country needs great teachers. Send my thanks to your wife for being one of them.

Randy, Your wife got to this level because of who she is. She must be a tremendous lady, so my take is that all she needs to do is keep being Karen, and things will work out just fine.

As for the speech she has to give - tell her to imagine the audience is in their underwear. That will calm her nerves ...

Loads of luck to your wife, Randy! My sister-in-law is also a reading specialist at an elementary school (in Iowa City). In fact, it's at the same school that my brother & I attended! I didn't realize the importance of reading teachers until she became one. It's great that your wife is being recognized for her specialty!

OT...but I was looking at your profile and saw your hobbies included Ryukyu Kempo Karate. My mother is from Okinawa. So not only do we have Iowa in common, a reading specialist in the family, but Okinawa as well (but in my family, no one knows Karate!).

Congratulations to your wife!
Mary

The problem is that I'll be in the audience also Craig, now that I'm in my late 30's, she doesn't seem to see me much in my Fruit of the Looms like she used to

Hey what ever happened to my 6 pack

In reply to:

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Hey what ever happened to my 6 pack

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Randy, tell you upgraded to a full KEG !

thanks everyone ....

thanks Mary, it sure is a small world. In regards to the Karate stuff, I really need to get back into it, I've been out for a year or so busy with a bunch of kid activities and remodeling my basement for the new HT , you know the important stuff. My Master's Master is Taika Oyata who is now pushing 80, but you would not know it, I've watched him toss these Americanized TKD so called black belts around the room like rag dolls. There is definately a difference between Americanized Martial Arts that is geared towards preparing for tournaments, and a true Life Protection Art that provides techniques that could actually kill an attacker.

The art is actually called RyuTe that Taika founded but because he is from the RyuKyu Islands, most of us refer to it as RyuKyu Karate.

Thanks, again...Randy

Great teachers are likely the most important influence on a child's life outside of their family. Congrats to your wife on being one of those outstanding influences, regardless of the outcome of the statewide prize.

Congratulations and best of luck to Karen as she moves foward in the process. I hold the highest admiration for teachers. My wife told me I have to. You see, she is a one. As a matter of fact she is a Reading Recovery teacher. I don't know if your familiar with that program in Iowa.

She teaches only first grade students who are at risk. (way behind other first graders) She pulls them out of regular class and works with them 1 on 1 for about an hour a day. She starts with a battery of tests to identify the children most at risk. Most have some form of LD, emotional problem or they are from families of lesser means or homes where little english is spoken at all. Many of her students tell her there are no books in the house. Based on what the childs particular problem is she works out her lesson plan. Most of the children she works with are reading at class level or above by the time she is through with them. But it is the ones that she never seems to reach that haunt her and at the same time make her the teacher she is. She is a life time student, always learning new tools and strategies so that she can be the best at what she does. She is very dedicated to her students. She makes learning fun and when the child finally learns to read and works through the different levels most of them absolutely love to read. Generally the child has a favorite book by the time they have worked through the levels. The children that tell her there are no books in the house get their favorite book as a gift for their accomplishment. The school will not approve this method but my wife covers the cost of the book. During one of my tightwad moments one time I stated that this was costing us a lot of money. She told me it was well worth it to see the look on the childs face when they come in with this proud look on their face and say "Miss Bernadette, I took the book home and read it to my parents." She knows in many of these cases the parents probably understood very little of it.

Best of luck to Karen. I hope she gets all the recognition I know she deserves.
oz

Thanks again everyone...

Oz, sounds very similar to my wife's current job as 1st Grade Reading teacher, I will have to talk to her tonight to get the actual job specifics, but it sounds very similar to what you described, especially the one on one stuff.

She is off getting her interview haircut right now for Friday's interview with the Iowa Board of Education.

Many, Many thanks to everyone....I'll keep ya posted..Randy

Hey, man, congrats to your wife. We're all rooting for her, I'm sure!

Congrats to your wife and I wish her good luck.

She deserves a special gift. (how about a pair of M80's)

I'm thinking more like an EP600

i think sHE deserves both

Congratulations!

Having a 1st grader and a 2nd grader, both have been very fortunate to have great pre-school and elementary school teachers, my respect for teachers and what they do has grown a lot. My kids love school and love to learn, and I give the credit to the teachers and the foundations they helped us form.

An outstanding achievement for your wife!

congrats to your wife Randy! I think i speak for everyone here (and most already have spoken) when i say thank you to your wife and the other hard-working teachers out there. I can fully appreciate the effort & sacrifice that goes into that job on a daily basis - i come from a family with a number of teachers including my sister who taught EASL in Taiwan for 6 years. Good luck!

oz, sounds like your wife is one of the special ones too. How lovely to read about her!

Thanks Amie! I hope I didn't come off as trying to steal Karen's thunder. I just wanted to let Randy know we had yet another thing in common and that I completely understood how proud he is. Judging from Randy's response it sounds like his wife may be Reading Recovery as well. How weird would that be?
oz

My wife taught using the Reading Recovery program for four years. She now stays home to raise my two daughters. Reading Recovery is an awesome program.

It really is a great method of teaching. It is so different from the way the nuns taught me (ruler on the back of my knuckles) back in my day. Unfortunately it tends to get a lot criticism from the teachers and parents who don't want to accept that phonics is only one tool, not the only tool. Did your wife teach it in Texas?
oz

Me again Well my wife is preparing for the big interview tomorrow. She had a meeting yesterday with a teacher that made the top 5 a few years back, and received some great advice on what types of questions to expect. After the interview we are going out to lunch. I took tomorrow off work to accompany her to the interview. Tomorrow night we are dropping the kids of at my folks place and going out to dinner and have a few drinks to celebrate. It has been a long time since just us two went out on the town, I think we are going to start doing more of that on Friday nights. In life you get so wrapped up in work and other activities, you sometimes forget what got you to this point.

Funny how fast time goes by once you get married and hit the job market and start a family. I just had my 20th High School reunion, I can't believe it, seems like yesterday.

Anyway, thanks so much for all of your wonderful comments. My wife was amazed on how much Oz new about his wifes job. She told me she was going to sit me down some day and let me have the whole scoop as well, then I can right a nice article similar to Oz's post above.

ps: I'll let you all know how the interview went soon...

Oz - Yes, my wife taught in Texas. She was teaching at Galena Park ISD. The district had many students from lower income families (at my wife's school about 75% of the children were eligible for free or reduced rate lunches) but the administration and teachers were top notch. It was proof that it is possible to get a good education without paying private school prices.

Hey everyone, first of all my wife and I want to say THANKYOU for all of your kind comments and support.

UPDATE!!!!!!!!

Out of 200+ candidates, my wife received the runner up for 2005 Iowa Teacher of the Year. I am very proud of her. Sorry it took so long for me to give you all an update..

Anyway, she is actually somewhat relieved that she did not actually get the title. If so, she would have to speak at many functions throughout 2006 and really be a representative for the State of Iowa in many ways. Her passion is teaching, and working with kids, so in a way, she is glad she was runner up.

The interview she had with the Board of Education went very well. After the interview she was very happy that she answered all of their questions, which were more personal as to her teaching approach. The board also recognized her passion and drive was teaching, and not being a Sales/Marketing figure for Iowa.

There will be a banquet in the Spring, and she will have to prepare a speech, which she can handle...plus I get some good food to eat.

Thanks again for all of your support, it was greatly appreciated.

Randy

good to hear buddy. my congrats.

Hey buddy, pass on to Karen a big Congrats for me, that's awesome!


Sutter

That's great news, Randy!

By the way, how did you sucker her in to marrying you?

You know, I've been asking myself that question every since that first date back in 86. I think the movie I took her to was "Stand By Me" , no pun intended...

Way to go Mrs. sirquak!!!!
Congrats.

Congrats goes out!! What an honor.

I also have a wife that is extremely dedicated to teaching and improving society through education I can totally appreciate how cool that is.
Thanks for all her hard work with the kids.

Very nice. My congratulations to your wife!

Terrific. Congratulations to her and the whole family.

In this day and time of "Do More with Less", any recognition is extraordinary.

Congratulations to your wife and your family.

I am sure you are all very proud of her.

We need more teachers like her...

Warmest Regards,

WhatFurrer

Congratulations to your wife. I know you must be very proud of her!

Randy
Fantastic, Bravo, Yippee! What an accomplishment! My best to you and Karen.
oz

Yes!!Congrats are certainly in order!! Well done!! The only thing better than being the over-all winner, is getting exactly what you really want!!

And who knows.....on the last day of the last month at the last official proceeding, the 1St place teacher may be unable to attend, and the honor will be given to the 1st runner-up!!

All the recognition without all the hassle!!

Congratulations!!!
Rich, and Family.

That is a very fine honor indeed Randy, tell Mrs Sirquack congratulations from south Florida.

Congratulations and Thank You to your wife and your family.

In my office, I have a framed postage stamp that I purchased at the Smithsonian Postal Museum. The 3 cent stamp commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the National Education Association in 1957 - "Honoring the Teachers of America". The mat includes an oddly cynical but humorous version of the Teacher's Creed:

We, the willing, led by the unqualified, have been doing the unbelievable for so long with so little, we now attempt the impossible with nothing.

A far more affirming version, which Karen and other dedicated professionals obviously exemplify is:

I am a teacher.
I accept the challenge to be sagacious and tenacious in teaching every student because I believe that every child can learn.
I accept the responsibility to create a learning environment conducive to optimum achievement academically, socially, and emotionally.
I actively pursue excellence for myself and for my students.
I provide a model of decorum and respect that guides my students as well as honors them.
I affirm superlative expectations for my students and myself.
I cherish every child.
I am a teacher.
I change the world one student at a time.

It is good for us all to recognize and honor the important work Karen and others do every day in making our world a better place.

Bravo!

Congratulations and keep up the good work Karen!

Great job we are all proud of her.

Congrats. My son likes to call a friend of ours a retired teacher. I say once a teacher always a teacher.

Congrats to Mrs. Randy from neighboring Il.That is a wonderful achievement.