Four Weac Members Named Teachers Of The Year

Four WEAC members were named Wisconsin's Teachers of the Year Wednesday (September 8, 2004).

A panel of educators, parents and community leaders selected Cedarburg Education Association member Mary Madigan, Fond du Lac Education Association member Sarah Stetter, Lodi Education Association member Mark Kohl and Seymour Education Association member Nancy Comella from a pool of 86 nominees, each of which are Kohl Teacher Fellows.

Later this month, the selection panel will choose one of the four to represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year program.

"The enthusiasm these teachers show for their students and the devotion they have to sharing what they know about teaching with educators who are new to the classroom makes them powerful contributors to the New Wisconsin Promise of ensuring quality teachers in every classroom," State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster said.

WEAC President Stan Johnson commended the teachers for their commitment to excellence and dedication to ensuring that every child receives a quality education in a great school. "These four extraordinary teachers are leaders in their communities and schools," he said. "They are devoted to student success, volunteerism and to inspiring a love of learning. Great schools depend on great teachers and staff – and they are great teachers."

Mary Madigan
Mary Madigan teaches kindergarten at Parkview Elementary School in Cedarburg and is the state's Elementary Teacher of the Year. Her goal as a teacher is to make each of her students feel safe and loved, which she accomplishes by sending a special note home with each student outlining his or her weekly achievements. Her classroom is filled with picture books, costumes, props and music to inspire imaginative play, creativity and problem-solving skills.

Madigan's community service activities include serving on the Cedarburg School District Reading/Language Arts and character education committees. She also serves on the Cedarburg Community Scholarship Fund, which has raised $80,000.

Sarah Stetter
Wisconsin's Middle School Teacher of the Year is Sarah Stetter, a science teacher at Woodworth Middle School in Fond du Lac. She uses hands-on activities to get students' attention. "Science is a way of answering questions about the world. Everyone is 'good' at some aspect of the multifaceted field of science," she said. "My job is to discover how best to engage each student in learning, and then provide multiple ways for learning to take place."

Stetter's National Park unit teaches students how to collect and analyze data, read maps and research public parks. She also organizes the school's science fair, and has taken students on study trips to Japan and Belize.

Mark Kohl
High School Teacher of the Year Mark Kohl teaches U.S. history and oral communications at Lodi High School. He teaches principles of civics and self-government by encouraging students to create a constitution and classroom laws. His "Oral Communications II" class gives students access to the district's audio/visual studio where they produce shows for broadcast on the educational access television channel.

Kohl sponsors the district's forensics program, and helps students gain self-confidence through public speaking. His teams have won the Hintz Excellence in Speech Award 16 times during his 20-year tenure as head coach.

Nancy Comella
Nancy Comella, Special Services Teacher of the Year, works with early childhood special education students at Rock Ledge Elementary School in Seymour. Her former students often return to her classroom as volunteers, a testament to her lasting relationships with them. She works with blind and multiply challenged students and constantly searches for ways to meet their needs.

Comella touts inclusion as one of the educational system's greatest strengths. "Integration is extremely important for many of our disabled students and benefits their age-appropriate peers as well," she said.

Each Teacher of the Year will be recognized during an awards banquet at the WEAC Convention, which is October 28-29 in Madison.

Posted September 8, 2004