Dedication, Selflessness of Eau Claire Educator Inspire Disney
By Sarah Jancich
Assistant editor
Eau Claire health teacher Deb Tackmann is one of 35 distinguished educators
who received the Disney American Teacher Award this year. But her students,
colleagues and community will argue that she's one in a million.
"Words do not do justice to this wonderful woman," Richard
Moses, Choral Director at Altoona High School said. "Deb Tackmann
won my outstanding teacher award years ago. Now Disney has caught on.
It's about time!"
| |
"Deb Tackmann won my outstanding teacher award years ago.
Now Disney has caught on. It's about time!"
--Richard Moses
Choral Director
Altoona High School
Read Richard's
letter about Deb |
Tackmann began working with Moses in 1997 when her son joined the Altoona
High School show choir. Though she was already busy as Eau Claire North
High School's health teacher, Tackmann volunteered to coordinate dance
into the show choir's performances. That extra responsibility requires
Tackmann to give up weekends and evenings, but her dedication to the program
is immense. "She's hardworking, giving, tireless and selfless,"
Moses said.
Her volunteer work doesn't stop with Altoona's show choir. Tackmann travels
the country to give clinics and seminars on health and related subjects.
She's a co-author of "Hands-On Health," a creative teaching
strategies handbook for teachers. She has also found time for the American
Cancer Society, Northwest Wisconsin's AIDS Resource Center, and the American
Heart Association, just to name a few. It's no surprise that two NHS classes
at North have voted Tackmann "Teacher of the Year."
During her 14-year career at North, Tackmann has tackled the often-difficult
content of her subject, including human sexuality, alcohol abuse, and
smoking. With AIDS, homicide, eating disorders, suicide and other dangers
facing teen-agers, Tackmann takes health education seriously. "Ms.
Tackmann positively touches lives every day," former students Daniel
Anderson and Juliette Linse said. "She hugs the undesirable, challenges
the unreachable and loves unconditionally. We know she is committed to
teaching, but she isn't just a teacher. She is a facilitator of knowledge,
a believer of dreams and a life changer."
Tackmann said she's driven by the idea that she can change students'
lives for the better. Once, a child asked if he could give her a gift.
When he pulled a bullet out of his pocket, he said her class had given
him the hope he needed to prevent his suicide. "I passionately embrace
every opportunity I can to help kids deal with the tough stuff life has
to offer," she said.
Students, parents, administrators, colleagues and community members nominated
Tackmann for Disney's American Teacher Award. She was chosen from 111,000
nominees for the honor. Her prize package includes $10,000, an additional
$5,000 for North High School, and a trip to Walt Disney World next July
for a professional development program.
"Disney's American Teacher Awards is an honor," said Laurie
Lang, Senior Vice President of the Disney Learning Partnership. "But
to the Walt Disney Company, the honorees are an investment in teachers
who have that special gift of unlocking the imagination that lies within
every child. Deb Tackmann is one of those teachers."
Disney American
Teacher Awards Web site
Posted November 20, 2001