Fifty-two teachers and staffers in the Perry Community School District were recognized Thursday morning for reaching incremental milestones in their years of service to the children of the Perry area, and one teacher received special accolades for teaching excellence.
Becky Reuter, kindergarten teacher at the Perry Elementary School and a 19-year veteran of the PCSD, was awarded both the Otley Masonic Lodge 99 Excellence in Education certificate and the PCSD Teacher of the Year award.
Brent Halling of rural Perry, presenting Reuter with the Masons’ award, said she “embodies the Masonic ideals of conduct, courtesy, responsbility, kindness, honesty and community involvement” of an exemplary professional.
In presenting the district’s Teacher of the Year award, PCSD Director of Teaching and Learning Kevin Videgar said Reuter’s commitment to her young charges’ learning, from tying their shoes to counting to 100 “and much, much more,” earned her this year’s award as outstanding instructor.
Prior to the awards assembly, the district employees enjoyed a hearty breakfast in the PHS commons, and PCSD Superintendent of Schools Clark Wicks, who moderated the assembly, thanked Director of Nutrition Services Gail McFarlin for her service to the district.
Wicks also singled out for praise Executive Assistant Joyce Scott in the district’s central administrative offices and Perry School Board Vice President Linda Andorf. Scott and Andorf distributed the awards to the 52 teachers and staff members.
Reaching the five-year milestone were Dora Aguilar, Willard Brown, Rick Gates, Tennille Perez, Tracy Repp, Wendy Wood, Kevin Vidergar, Carmen McColley, Adam Kealhofer, Cory Hochstedler, Allyson Gast, Christine Gage, Aliesha Crowley, Barry Chayet, Alicia Miranda-Oblea, Jennifer Molitor and Adam Bloom.
Ten-year employees of the district were Tasha Galindo, Richelle Atkins, Terra Webb, Jessica Renken, Heather Nelson, Jenn Nelson, Amy McCord, Rebecca Hopkins, Curt Cornelius, Pamela Faltonson, Cynthia Burkett, Shannon Cline, Katryne Bass, Katie Hardy, Matt Hardy, Torey McElroy and Nathan Krohn.
Thanked for 15 years of service were Jodi Schuttler, Nicole Myers, Susan Cole, Anne Horgen, Brenda Mintun, Wendy Bollhoefer, Lisa Christensen and Jenny Adair.
The 20-year mark was reached by Gary Overla, Lori Lohman, Janel Menz, Kevin McLaughlin, Sarah Locker and April Ballentine.
Twenty-five-year employees thanked Thursday were Rhonda Kanealy and Cynthia Jafvert, and reaching the 30-year goal were Phyllis Whitmer and Joyce Scott.
