The Perry Community School District honored its own Wednesday afternoon at the annual End of Year Staff Awards ceremonies at the Perry Performing Arts Center.
PCSD Superintendent Clark Wicks presided over the ceremonies, with Perry School Board President Linda Andorf and PCSD Executive Assistant Joyce Scott helping to distribute the awards. Wicks congratulated and thanked all the faculty and staff members present, commending them for their perseverance.
Perry Rotary Club President Kevin Vidergar presented the Perry Rotary Club Educator of the Year Award to Perry Elementary School teacher Elizabeth Marburger. Vidergar presented the award to Marburger with the following testimonial:
This year’s Rotary Teacher of the Year has been a familiar face at Perry Elementary since 2007. In the classroom she is a model of instructional excellence where she establishes high expectations while building positive, personal and professional relationships. She provides encouragement and support to every student in her class and to the team of teachers she works alongside. Her lessons in the classroom are engaging, thorough, and build on years of experience and best practices. Her efforts were instrumental in Perry Elementary receiving the 2023 National Blue Ribbon School honor, recognizing exemplary high-performing schools by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
If there was one person who was most proud of Perry Elementary’s Blue Ribbon accomplishment and acknowledged her contribution to the team for that achievement, that is Mr. Dan Marburger. Through many meetings, he often spoke about her team’s late-night conversations around the dining room table, looking at data throughout the summer, talking about how to best meet the needs of students as they walked in the door in August of each school year. When Perry Elementary re-opened its doors in January 2024, when the weeks prior had been anything but normal, she was there with her students on day one because she knew that those students needed to know she was okay and needed to know that together we could move forward.
Her dedication to students extends well beyond the classroom, and after the school bell rings when many are headed home, she continues to support Perry athletics. She has spent countless hours supporting Bluejay and Jayette athletes, serving students, coaches and the school community on and off the field. She has managed scorebooks for middle school, ninth grade, JV and Varsity volleyball and basketball. In the winter, when she hasn’t wanted to travel alone to away games with winter weather, she often rides the team bus and has more time to support and connect with student athletes and coaches. In the spring, she is the voice of the Jayette Relays, the Davis Relays, the John Turner Relays and the Mary Waggie Relays as the meet announcer. Her dependability and attention to detail ensure that athletic events run smoothly. She never seeks credit for her work, but simply sees where there is a need and volunteers to serve the students and staff of Perry Community School District.
Dr. Eugene Brady, former Perry High School principal stated, “Teaching is a gift. Some educators have it, some discover it, and some never find it.” This year’s Rotary Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Elizabeth Marburger, has the gift of teaching, sharing the gift with her students, and guiding many staff that she works alongside with developing that gift. Elizabeth represents the very best of what it means to be an effective educator and embodies the values of the Rotary Club, service, fellowship, diversity, integrity and leadership. She serves and leads with grace and honor and will leave a lasting impact on Perry Elementary School.
PHS French teacher Teresa Kresse and PHS math teacher Lisa Schumacher presented the Friend to Iowa Academic Decathlon Award to PHS Director of Teaching and Learning Kevin Vidergar. They honored the retiring director with the following presentation:
After last year’s incident, the climate in our district changed significantly, so when we were provided an opportunity to focus on a special person who contributes so much positivity to our Academic Decathlon team, we had to submit a nomination.
Mr. Kevin Vidergar is our curriculum director and he has served our schools for 12 years.
Additionally, for as long as Teresa and I have been coaching our Academic Decathlon team, Kevin has supported us by approving the curriculum purchases, travel and overnight stays for state when we’ve attended, and so much more. Specifically, he always provides the USAD materials and never complains about the cost of the curriculum expenditures. He disperses the appropriate requisition codes and helps us when we have questions. Additionally, several times when the novels were unavailable via the USAD, Mr. Vidergar researched the best options and personally managed our novel purchases.
Mr. Vidergar not only helps us with the curricular aspects of Aca Deca, he donates his time to help with the State competition. For example, he has been a proctor for the practice sessions and essay contest multiple times. He truly loves the chance to work directly with the team and even takes our students’ team photos.
Most importantly, Kevin always sends a message wishing us good luck prior to every competition. He respects student learning and enrichment opportunities wholeheartedly! His support is valued and appreciated. Therefore, for these reasons and more, he should be recognized for all that he has done for Perry High School’s Academic Decathlon team.
In early March, we presented this award to Mr. Vidergar at the State Academic Decathlon Competition in Waterloo. However, we wanted to represent this honor to him with his Perry Community School District friends and colleagues.
This year’s ceremonies also saw 20 retirees honored for their service. The veteran employees have contributed a total of 423 years of combined labor for the students and families in the Perry Community School District.
- Rhonda Kanealy, 32 years as PMS Administrative Assistant
- April Ballentine, 27 years as PES Pre-kindergarten Para
- Gary Overla, 27 years as PHS Social Studies Teacher
- Robert Hidlebaugh, 26.5 years as PMS Custodian
- Lori Meinecke, 26 years as PHS PE/Health Teacher
- Cynthia Miner, 26 years as Fifth Grade Teacher
- Lori Enderton, 25 years PMS Para
- Mary Hillman, 25 years as Director of PACES
- Sherre Edmondson, 23.5 years as PES Administrative Assistant
- Joyce Hegstrom, 23 years as PMS Special Education Teacher
- Susan Cole, 22 years as Nutrition Staff
- Carla Wood, 21 years as Sixth Grade Social Studies Teacher
- Sidney Meier, 19 years as PHS Para
- Karen Sackett, 18 years as PES Library Para
- Cynthia Burkett, 17 years as Nutrition Staff
- Kent Bultman, 14 years as Director of Finance and Business Services, Treasurer
- Nancy Abbott, 13 years as Transportation Driver
- Kathy Pantzar, 13 years as PMS At-Risk Teacher
- Ralph Walker, 13 years as District Mechanic
- Kevin Vidergar, 12 years as Director of Teaching and Learning
In addition, 34 faculty and staff members were recognized for reaching career milestones.
Thirteen employees reached the fire-year mark: Brooke Antol, Sheryl Bierl, Lazaro Chavez, Sherrie Cords, Erin Finn, Matthew Hix, Erin Holmes, Esther Littlewhiteman, Jason Lutterman, Yadira Perez-Nunez, Alma Rivera, Chad Sorber and Raul Suarez.
Ten workers have made it 10 years: Allisa Bahney, Julie Elliott, Erin Galivan, Daryl Harker, Nicole Hayes, Katie Hermann, Jonathan Hoefer, Michael Lovan, Adam Modlin and Laura Skeel.
Two workers marked 15 years: Beth James and Tina Lutterman.
Touching the 20-year mark were Patricia Kelleher, Jenny Lansing, Angela Maquez and
Janiece Thompson.
Four teachers reached the 25-year milestone: Lori Enderson, Mary Hillman, Linda Huntington and Karin Kliewer.
Transportation Director Troy Griffith marked 30 years with the PCSD.
