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ISEA Communiqué • isea.org March 2014 9 FIRST-CLASS MEMBERS FIRST-CLASS MEMBERS Iowa School Counselor receives top honor Diana Beem, a school counselor at winterset Junior high in winterset, was named the 2013 iowa Junior high counselor of the Year by the iowa School counselor Association (iScA) at the annual iScA conference held in des Moines. beem was recognized for the counseling program she developed which includes at-risk students and drop-out prevention supports; and was recognized for developing a schoolwide crisis plan. beem was instrumental in implementing a schoolwide study skills program and homeroom seminars based on Stephen covey's 7 habits. in nominating beem, penny bisignano, a consultant for the iowa department of education said, "diana has long been a leader in school counseling program design and implementation. before the AScA Model of school counseling, diana was designing and delivering comprehensive counseling programming. She has a unique ability to weave student achievement and student development principles together so the needs of the whole child are addressed." Northeast Iowa teacher honored by President Obama Mason Kuhn, a fourth-grade teacher at Shell Rock elementary in Shell Rock, is one of 102 educators in the nation who will receive the presidential Award for excellence in Mathematics and Science teaching. Kuhn, who is working on getting a doctorate in curriculum and instruction at the university of northern iowa, said his teaching approach is called "science writing heuristic." Kuhn encourages students to ask questions, facilitate discussion, and discover how to find the evidence to claims. Kuhn tells his students that a person who makes a claim without evidence is a crazy person, but a scientist is a crazy person who has evidence! Kuhn said he is "very grateful and very excited" to be able to meet president obama when he gives out the awards at a date that has not been determined. Educator earns top teaching award from UNI Jodi Osthus, a math teacher at Meredith Middle School in des Moines is the recipient of the dr. Robert e. and phyllis M. Yager exemplary teaching Recognition Award bestowed annually by the university of northern iowa on one of its own. the award recognizes exemplary science and mathematics teaching by uni graduates. teachers are nominated by uni science and math faculty members and are uni graduates in at least their fifth year of teaching in a K through 12 classroom. Awardees are selected on the basis of teaching materials, nomination letters, and student references. nominees are asked to submit a video of their teaching and a supporting essay. "Jodi osthus is an excellent math teacher who encourages her students to find multiple ways to explore math. She provides opportunities for the students to take what they have learned and apply it to real world situations," said Meredith principal cindy flesch. "Mrs. osthus also incorporates service learning into class and most recently partnered with the Red cross to raise funds for the colorado flood victims." Golden Apple Award Jamaal Allan, a theater arts teacher at east high in des Moines, received des Moines' who-tV January 2014 Golden Apple Award. the Golden Apple Award is a very special recognition given to one teacher each month during the school year. Students write letters and emails to who explaining why their favorite teacher is so special. thousands of letters are received each year and each one is read and judged by who and Allied insurance. each month, judges select a winning letter, contact the school's principal, and arrange a schoolwide assembly where that special teacher is surprised by who and Allied insurance. "it really is rewarding when you see individuals or classes, as a group, kind of mold together, to push themselves to take the next step --- to try things they would be afraid of," Allan said. Simon Estes visits classroom Jan Keese, a third-grade teacher at Ashland Ridge elementary in Ankeny, had a visit from iowa's world-famous opera singer, Simon estes. the class presented estes with a check for $2,100, money rasied for his foundation's "iowa Student's care" program. the money will buy 420 malaria nets – bed nets treated with insecticide to protect families in Africa from malaria carrying mosquitos. Keese is also a 2007 iowa teacher of the Year. Classroom of Character Denise Dieter's Johnston Middle School classroom won the december classroom of character award sponsored by Kcci-tV and Smart honda of des Moines. dieter's class received an ipad and a classroom check for $1,500 for demonstrating the six pillars of character in her class. Reader's choice award Dana Hamilton, a teacher at Stewart elementary in washington, was voted as the Readers' choice favorite teacher for 2013. categories for the Washington Evening Journal Readers' choice awards are voted on by residents in the was3ington area. the Journal publishes an annual edition congratulating the recipients of the awards each february for votes based on the prior year. if you or a colleague has received an award or recognition, let us know! Just email tkuhn@isea.org or mail to: iSeA, 777 third St., des Moines, iA 50309. SPREAD THE NEWS