Wingert Announced As “Teacher Of The Year” Recipient
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District Alumni Association along with the Le Mars Community School Foundation awarded its “Teacher of the Year” honors this morning. Ten year teacher, Tracie Wingert, who serves as the Technology Instructional Coach for the Le Mars Community Middle and High School is this year’s recipient. At the time of the presentation of the award, Wingert was in Doug Martin’s classroom offering assistance to students. Wingert says, he initially thought it was Doug Martin who was being honored.
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Wingert was presented the honor by Carolyn Vance with the Le Mars Community School Foundation Association and the Alumni Association. Attending the award presentation was Wingert’s family, his wife and two sons, as well as his parents, who came from Sioux City. Wingert says he likes to encourage his students to push themselves harder than what they themselves believe are their capabilities. He says he was literally surrounded by education as a youngster, and that led to his interests in teaching.
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Wingert says his responsibilities include helping both students and teachers incorporate technology with the curriculum.
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The technology instruction coach was nominated by his mentor Doug Martin, High School principal Dr. Mark Iverson, and by his student Gabe Jensen. Wingert says he is appreciative for his peers recognizing his interests, but it is extra special to have a student also submit a nomination.
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For being selected as the Le Mars Community “Teacher of the Year” Wingert will be presented with the “Chrystal Bell” during the Le Mars Community Foundation and Alumni Association banquet scheduled for April 27th. Wingert will also receive a $500 check to be used for his teaching materials, as well as a $500 cash award for his personal use.
Le Mars Community High School Presents “Election” As Spring Play
(Le Mars) — Attendees of the Le Mars Community High School play “Election” may ask themselves as they watch the comedy/parody is art imitating life, or is life imitating art? The reason is because, as director Erin Ohrlend says, the scenes may appear similar to what people see on the evening news with regards to the current political campaigns.
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Ohrlend says she selected the 2011 play specifically because of the current election process, saying she thought the Le Mars Community High School students would enjoy the similarities between the action in the play, and what is happening in the real world.
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Ohrlend says the audience is able to be a participant of the play’s outcome by casting their votes for their candidate of their choice.
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The play has a cast of 30 members and seven set people. Ohrlend talks about its participants.
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Admission is five dollars, and there are only two performances left; tonight and Saturday evening. The curtain will rise at 7:00 p.m. with doors open to the High School’s “Little Theater” at 6:15 p.m.
Mason City School Board Says No To Chinese Students
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Mason City school board has rejected a proposal to have students from China attend school in Mason City, citing concerns about the proposal and unauthorized use of student photos.
The board voted 6-1 Thursday against the proposal by International Educational Development Corp. The company originally proposed having about 20 students travel to northern Iowa to attend classes in Mason City and other communities. Mason City would have been designated as the proposal’s lead school, with administrative responsibilities.
Some Mason City board members expressed concerns Thursday about the amount of money the district would receive from the company, the cost of obtaining visas for the students and about their English proficiency. The proposal also was jeopardized last month when unauthorized Mason City student photos were spotted on the company’s website.
State Senate Still Having To Deal With Mental Health Legislation
(Des Moines) — Republican State Senator Bill Anderson of Pierson, says one issue still facing the legislature is dealing with the regionalization of mental health services. Back in 2013, mental health services combined to different regions within the state, as opposed to individual counties serving the needs of those seeking assistance for mental health issues.
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Anderson says the discussion has focused on at what level are counties allowed to set their tax levy levels for mental health services, since now they are part of a regional program?
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The state senator says he would like to see the middle ground be used for funding mental health services.
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Anderson says other bills that may still remain alive include fantasy sports, and fireworks.
Supreme Court Says Man Cannot Recover Damages For Time Spent In Custody
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says a man cannot recover damages for the time he spent in custody before his conviction for having sex with another man while infected with HIV was overturned. The court ruled Friday that since Nick Rhoades initially pleaded guilty to criminal transmission of HIV in 2008 he cannot sue the state for wrongful imprisonment.
