2008 AWSA Award Recipients Announced

The AWSA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the following recipients of the 2008 AWSA Awards:

Jane Elmer, Executive Director, Wisconsin Retired Educators' Association: Distinguished Friend of Education
Jane Elmer’s experience as a teacher, school board member, human services administrator, fund raiser and public relations facilitator have given her a unique perspective. She has utilized her many skills since 1992 in the service of others as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Retired Educators' Association (WREA). During that time, she has assisted countless individuals in navigating the sometimes muddy and turbulent waters of the state retirement system.  In addition to her kind personal attention to educators, Jane has led the WREA’s legislative program which has had a positive effect on public policy matters affecting education and educators. She played an instrumental role in educating and guiding her board, members and attorneys through a very complex legal case involving a raid on the public pension fund.  The litigation ultimately resulted in a unanimous, landmark Wisconsin Supreme Court decision. Jane is deeply respected by those with whom she has worked, including legislative leaders, retired educators, education and finance organizations and the Governor’s office. As one retired principal states, “How fortunate we Wisconsin educators are to have a caring, persistent, effective advocate such as Jane Elmer on our team.”

Jim Rickabaugh, District Administrator, Whitefish Bay School District:  Distinguished Service Award for Advancement of the Profession
Jim Rickabaugh, District Administrator of the Whitefish Bay School District, believes in “giving back.”  He has spent countless hours doing so through the development and ongoing implementation of the AWSA/WASDA Aspiring Superintendent Program which invites and nurtures the development of school district leaders in Wisconsin. Entering its fifth year, the Aspiring Superintendent program’s mission is to ensure that the profession will continue to improve by attracting, supporting and connecting high quality school district leaders and equipping them to meet the challenges of the future. The success of this program is, in large part, due to Jim’s ability to distill complex situations to their most essential components and then reframe these into key considerations and questions that guide thinking and reflection.  Jim’s leadership, as one educator states, “serves to empower the learner to approach even the most novel and challenging of situations with intelligence and confidence, and in so doing, Jim’s ongoing efforts have significantly built leadership capacity and effectiveness within the Wisconsin educational community.” Jim’s service and dedication have given Wisconsin a new group of leaders who are better informed and prepared to serve in key district leadership positions.
 

Steve Pophal, Principal, D.C. Everest Junior High School: Distinguished Service Award for Demonstrated Leadership to AWSA
Steve Pophal, principal of D.C. Everest Junior High School in Schofield, has a long and distinguished history with AWSA since he became a member in 1991. He has served as president-elect, president and past-president of the board of directors, member of the executive committee, representative council, strategic planning committee and organizational review committee. He has also served on the School Administrators Alliance truancy project team, legislative committee, steering committee and was co-chair of the PI 34 committee. Steve was named 2004-05 Wisconsin Principal of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of School Councils. Steve has brought further recognition to the principalship and the state of Wisconsin through his involvement in the National Association of Secondary School Principals, for which he will serve as the president this year.

The Kern Family Foundation: 
Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to School and Community
Bob and Patricia Kern believe that the hope for our nation is in the next generation. They encourage this vision by channeling hundreds of millions of dollars of personal wealth into a private foundation that is supporting school reform in science and technology education. The Kern Family Foundation’s generosity to more than one hundred schools throughout the state of Wisconsin has provided start-up grants for Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and enabled thousands of students to be enriched by the PLTW curriculum.  Project Lead the Way is a highly regarded hands-on pre-engineering program including science, math, research and technology curricula that extend from grade six through high school. Scott Brown, Superintendent of McFarland School District notes, “The grants from the Kern Family Foundation enable start-up programs that would otherwise not have been possible in these difficult budget times.”

Antigo School Leadership Team:  AWSA Team Management Award
The district administrative team and school board of the Unified School District of Antigo demonstrate a philosophy of shared leadership and mutual respect that encourage broad, meaningful participation and shared decision making. The inclusion of many levels of leadership has led to changes within the school system related to professional learning communities, technology, grading practices, and data-based decision making. These changes have impacted student achievement and resulted in positive changes in school staff and building cultures. As the school board president states, “We believe our team management approach demonstrates that by working together we can accomplish far more, with far greater personal reward, than we ever could otherwise.”

The Janesville Gazette:  AWSA Media Award
From coverage of school activities and special events to referendum and construction reporting, The Janesville Gazette has provided thorough, accurate education coverage to the Janesville community. As the school board president notes, “The Gazette brings to the public an awareness of what the school district is about and what the district and community face.” In addition, the newspaper participates in and fosters student achievement through a variety of programs such as the annual Spelling Bee and Student of the Week. “I believe the Gazette is dedicated to promoting the importance and civic values of the mission of public education,” states school board president, Debra Kolste. “The Janesville Gazette has been a community partner that has allowed the district to be a better community member.”

Special Recognition Awards

• Nancy Scheuerman, recently retired principal of Ferber Elementary School in Appleton, is recognized for her contributions to students, families, staff and the communities in which she has lived and served during her 30 as years as an educator.  Nancy is known for her ability to create positive change, increased expectations for student academic performance and the development of multiple venues for student success and engagement both during school and outside school hours. She is a dedicated professional who has touched the lives of many. Debra Cronmiller, Executive Director of the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley states, “Each day, I see Nancy’s actions in our community reflect her desire for a different, better world for each person she comes in contact with.”
   

• The Lodi Rotary Club:  For eighteen years, the Lodi Rotary Club has sponsored the annual Outstanding Impact Awards Banquet in the Lodi School District.  The banquet provides for top students to recognize and honor those staff members who have made the most impact on their successes. This annual event provides an opportunity for students to show their appreciation to the people with whom they come in contact in the school setting. As award recipient Chris Deedon states, “Education is about kids and making a difference in their lives.” It is immensely gratifying to know that school staff can, and do, have a positive impact on the lives of students. This special recognition award will be presented to Sharon Richmond, president of the Lodi Rotary Club, at an upcoming Lodi school board meeting.
   

• David Bretting, President and CEO, C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Company, Inc. of Ashland, WI, is recognized for his company and family’s ongoing “behind the scenes” support of the Ashland community and school district. Barb O’Brien, Ashland’s Director of Curriculum, states, “I have been most impressed with the versatility of Mr. Betting’s donations and contributions. He has given very generously to our athletic program, to our curriculum in the vocational education department, staff development and to the district’s LEAN project.”  When David Bretting sponsors good works, he consistently asks to remain anonymous—a clear indication of his ‘servant leader’ philosophy. According to Peggy Smith, Ashland Superintendent, “David is truly a friend of public education.  I am grateful to be a partner in the community he supports through leadership, generosity, and vision.” This award will be presented on August 28, 2009 in Ashland.
   

• Connie Gard, recently retired administrative assistant, Iowa-Grant High School, Iowa-Grant High School, Livingston, WI, is recognized for her 44 years of service as the high school administrative secretary of Iowa-Grant High School. According to Mitch Munson, principal of Iowa-Grant HS, “In all those years, Connie has been the backbone of our high school. I can honestly say that Connie Gard is Iowa-Grant, and that our school and communities are much better places because she has been here.”  Connie has been the smiling face people see when they enter the office; she is the pleasant voice on the phone. She has put in countless hours for the benefit the students, staff, parents and community. She is a friend, confidant, administrator, gardener, historian, painter, and part-time mother to the students.  According to Jacki Benish, school counselor, “Connie is truly the heart and soul of IG!”

AWSA Awards Program

At the Annual Convention, AWSA recognizes those people and/or organizations who have given outstanding service to AWSA and to the cause of providing quality education to the young people of Wisconsin. Recognition is given in the form of AWSA's Distinguished Service Awards or Certificates of Appreciation. Also recognized at the convention are AWSA members who have retired during the previous 12-month period.

Your input is very valuable to the awards committee to help identify the individuals, agencies and businesses who should be considered to receive these awards.

If you have any questions about the awards program, please do not hesitate to contact the AWSA office at 608/241-0300, or email Tina Hogle. Also, you are requested to inform the AWSA office of any members who have passed away or retired since the previous AWSA convention.