Le Mars Community School Foundation Honors Alum and Teacher of the Year

The 2018 Decades of Excellence – Crystal Bell Recipient Mr. Doug Martin, left, stands with Le Mars Community Distinguished Alum, Kevin Petersen.  Petersen is a former director with NASA, while Martin has an interest in the space exploration agency and has lead several students to NASA student-focused activities.

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School Foundation banquet was held last evening to formally recognize the top five percent of the graduating seniors, those school district employees that have 25 years of service, and the school
district employees of the month. The evening is also to recognize the Le Mars Community School District Distinguished Alumnus, as well as to honor the “Teacher of the Year” Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell recipient. Two past alumni were honored as the Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Gary Warnock from the
Class of 1963, and Kevin Petersen from the Class of 1969. Warnock was unable to attend the evening’s festivities, but Petersen was on hand to accept his honor. Petersen is a retired Director of NASA’s Dryden Flight Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He served as its director for ten years. Petersen says he fondly remembers his days at Le Mars Community School District, and speaks highly of how Le Mars Community prepared him for his career in aeronautics engineering.

Petersen talks about the teachers at that time that greatly influenced him to look at space exploration and engineering.

The Le Mars Community alum talks about his career with NASA, and how he had a hand in developing some of the aeronautic technologies used today in many airlines.

During his acceptance speech, Petersen informed the gathering that cellphones used today, have more computer memory, and functions than the computer used during the Apollo moon journeys.

Petersen says he gets back to Iowa about once a year to spend some time at Lake Okoboji, and to visit with family members. His relatives include Larry and Luene Petersen and Gerald and Susan Klemme of Le Mars.

This year’s “Teacher of the Year-Decades of Excellence” recipient is Le Mars Community High School Science Teacher, Mr. Doug Martin. Martin has been a faculty member with Le Mars Community for 17 years. He teaches Physics, Anatomy, College Biology, and College Anatomy. He serves as one of the
coaches for Geared Up 9967, the school’s robotics team, and he has sponsored and facilitated several trips for Le Mars Community High School students to visit the NASA Space Centers in Houston and Florida. Martin began his
acceptance speech by making reference to the Le Mars Community Distinguished Alum Kevin Petersen.

Martin spoke fondly of the Le Mars Community faculty, staff, and especially the students.

The Le Mars Community Science teacher expanded on his comments regarding his love for his students.

Martin also spoke about one of his favorite projects, that being the robotics club.

The Le Mars Community School Foundation received over 40 nominations from past and present students, faculty, parents, administrators, and colleagues all suggesting that Martin be honored as the “Teacher of the Year.”