Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1518718
April/May 2024 isea.org • ISEA Communiqué 2 GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME Stephanie Schwebach Position title and school/district 5th grade teacher for MOC-Floyd-Valley Elementary School Tell us a little about yourself: Growing up on an acreage just outside Orange City, I knew I wanted to be a teacher at a very early age. I loved helping in the church nursery and in every other setting where caring for young children was a need. My baby sister was born when I was 12 and I LOVED being her 'second mommy.' In my eyes, there is no better profession than educating young students. After graduating from MOC Floyd Valley and loving my work experience in kindergarten and second grade classrooms, I began my college education at Northwestern College in Orange City. I got my dream job right out of college— teaching kindergarten at Orange City Elementary! Currently, I am teaching 5th grade for the third year, I taught kindergarten for 18 years, and I taught first grade at Franklin Elementary in LeMars for two years. How are you involved with the union? My dad, a now-retired high school biology teacher, encouraged me to join right out of college. For the last six years, I have served on our district planning committee which meets with our superintendent once a month. In the past three years, I have taken an even more active role by serving as building representative and co-chief negotiator. I attended the summer leadership conference last year and am going to continue to be an active member in our local association. New for this year, I am serving on the Resolution & New Business Committee for Council 1 and will be attending the ISEA Delegate Assembly for the first time in April. What's one skill you think everyone should have? I think everyone should be able to cooperate with others, regardless of age, gender, race, etc. We should be able to discuss our differences in opinion calmly and know that it's okay to disagree and still respect the other person or group. If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask them? I think I would like to have dinner with Abigail Adams and I would ask her about her time as First Lady in early United States history. I would love to know more about her belief in the equality of all people and what it was like during those times. Who would you most like to swap places with for a day? I would love to swap places with a caregiver of infants. I love the baby stage!! My kids are 11, 18, and almost 21, so I miss those days. What's the most memorable concert or live event you've attended? I attended Rocky Mountain High as a senior in high school. It's a Christian camp with speakers, fun activities, and I had a blast with my friends as well as growing deeper in my faith. What's the coolest thing you're working on now? My daughter is graduating from high school this May, so we are working on graduation announcements, decorations and all the planning involved with her party. I'm very blessed to be able to spend this time with her before she leaves for college this fall. Stephanie Schwebach A tip of the cap A tip of the cap to the 26 education associations and their grant writers for securing a total of 36 Iowa State Education Association Community Outreach grants this spring. They are: • Splashing into Summer, Nyla Hellinga, GEORGE-LITTLE ROCK EA • Reach Out / Taco Feed, Travis Balt, MOC-FLOYD VALLEY EA • Better With Books, Danielle Kleinhesselink, MOC-FLOYD VALLEY EA • Sheldon Community Summer Lunch Program, Kristin Noack, SHELDON COMMUNITY EA • Sheldon Methodist Church Summer Lunch Program, Kristin Noack, SHELDON COMMUNITY EA • Parent-Teacher Conferences Meal & Refreshments, Katie Schroder, SIBLEY-OCHEYEDAN EA • "Can"struction, Heidi Meyer, WEST LYON EA • Communicating with People Learning English, Roselyn Schillerstrom, WEST LYON EA • Kids Theater Camp, Mary Peterson, SHENANDOAH EA • Spread the Sunshine, Alana Alt, EAGLE GROVE EA • Community Picnic, Alana Alt, EAGLE GROVE EA • Meals From the Heartland, Emily Lane, HUMBOLDT EA • It's In The Bag, Amber Evans, POCAHONTAS AREA EA • Family Literacy Night, Rebekah Spragg, ALBERT CITY-TRUESDALE EA • Family Math Night, Rebekah Spragg, ALBERT CITY-TRUESDALE EA • Snack Shack for All, Sarah Hanson, ESTHERVILLE-LINCOLN CENTRAL EA • March Madness - Read Like Mad, JoAnn Eaton, NORTH UNION EA • Boji Mileage Club, Emily Chaffin, OKOBOJI EA • Give a Hoot, Becky Rients, OKOBOJI EA • All-Aboard, Becky Rients, OKOBOJI EA • CPR for Daycare Providers, Rob Cunningham, SPIRIT LAKE EA • Reading Resource Nook, Sarah DeWild, SPIRIT LAKE EA • Spirit Lake Care Closet, Jill Dielschneider, SPIRIT LAKE EA • Happy Teeth, Christine Schultz, BELMOND-KLEMME EA • Cedar Falls Rocket Club, Erin Blasberg, CEDAR FALLS • Chickasaw Pride Pantry, Barb Havlik, NEW HAMPTON EA • Back to School Bash, Tammy Duehr, DUBUQUE EA • Library Early Out Program, Mackenzie Lasack, MIDLAND EA • Delwood Backpack Program, Jenny Flannigan, DELWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL EA • Family Fun Day at the Movies, Heidi Lippens, EASTON VALLEY EA • Youth Team Sponsorship, Jenna Spain, MAQUOKETA EA • Leader in Me Family Y Activity, Jenna Spain, MAQUOKETA EA • Cultural Diversity Club Field Trip, Ayola Vesey, DAVENPORT EA • Great Light Up Music on the Square, Beverly Jenkinson, OSKALOOSA EA • Family Fest OEA Outreach, Heather Swanstrom, OTTUMWA EA • Thunder Cupboard, MariBeth Schneider, AREA IV COMMUNITY COLLEGE EA