Brenda Mintun, an instructional coach in the Perry Community School District, has been selected by the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association to receive the 2019-2020 Outstanding Service Award.
In addition to her responsibilities as instructional coach, Mintun serves as the Bluejay Congress advisor. Each year, she organizes and mobilizes a community service learning project on the Wednesday of Homecoming Week. This huge — and hugely popular — annual event involves more than 500 students and staff, and the volunteer activities render service to senior citizens, to veterans, even to pets — in our neighborhoods, parks, schools and throughout the downtown commercial district.
The uniqueness of the annual Homecoming volunteer day demonstrates Mintun’s commitment to the Perry community and emphasizes education beyond the classroom. PHS students learn many lessons from their volunteer service, including the value of the character traits of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
Mintun is also co-chairperson of Perry’s Veterans Day Celebration, organizing and coordinating the event with the Bluejay Congress, Student Activities Department and local chapters of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The annual ceremony brings together the students and the community each Nov. 11. She also previously served as the cheerleading coach.
Fred Rogers once said, “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes. Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Longtime PHS Student Activities Director Tom Lipovac said Mintun qualifies as a Fred Rogers hero.
“Brenda Mintun’s life of service, her belief in our students and her commitment to the community of Perry, Iowa, helping all of us to become the best versions of ourselves, qualify her as an IHSADA Service Award honoree,” Lipovac said.
Mintun has worked in the Perry schools since 2003. She was a high school language arts teacher for 13 years before turning to secondary instructional coach.
