|
My childhood home was on a farm near a
small town in southern Iowa named Russell. After graduating in a class of 19, I went to college at UNI. I graduated from the
University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls with a BA in mathematics in 1968. This is my 40th year of teaching math (34th at Dunkerton). I
joined the Dunkerton teaching staff the fall of 1976, after teaching one year at Anamosa and five years at Delwood of Elwood.
Over the years I have mainly taught junior high math, general math classes, Algebra I as well as computer applications
and programming classes when computer classes were part of the curriculum. This year I will teach Math 7, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and perhaps a general math
class. I
am also the sponsor for SES (Students for Educational Service). I match students who want to be SES helpers with teachers/staff
who volunteer to have a helper every other day for the semester. Some teachers share student helpers.
Dunkerton High School also takes an all high school three day trip every four years to a major city - usually Chicago. The
trip is planned by the staff as a great educational opportunity for our students. It is funded entirely by fundraisers (an
annual Craft Show, an annual Red Wheel or Four Seasons pizza/pie fundraiser, Kwik Star Cards, donations) and the students
pay a fee of about $60. The trip fund pays for chartered buses, hotels, admissions to all museums, provides breakfast, a dinner
theater, a Chicago style pizza meal, and even a student/teacher designed t-shirt of the event. The students pre-ordered/pre-paid
a couple meals this past trip so were responsible for one meal and personal spending. I voluntarily serve
as trip coordinator, treasurer, organize and master order the Red Wheel sales, and organize and serve as head cook for the
lunch/concessions at the craft show. March 2007 was the big trip. We began earning money the fall of 2007 for Chicago
2011 for the current 8th-11th graders. This time we will offer a reduced rate to those students who sign up and then work
at the craft show(s). Students may also earn rewards (cash in their trip account that must be used towards their trip cost)
for selling Red Wheel/Four Seasons products in the spring, according to the incentives offered at the time of the sales
campaign. We also keep track of parent workers and those who donate pies as this is used as part of the requirements
of being parent chaperones. I have been a member of the professional
group, the Dunkerton Education Association, for all 40 years and served as membership chairperson for about 15 years
and as treasurer for about 25 years. Presently, I serve on the social committee.
|
