Teachers honored
By Mike Warren
MARSHFIELD – Twenty-five of the area’s top teachers were recognized May 4, for their contributions to education. The Marshfield Area Chamber Foundation’s Partners in Educational Excellence and Workforce Development held their 19th annual Crystal Apple Awards banquet at Hotel Marshfield.
Twenty-one educators were honored as Teachers of Distinction, while four were given top honors as the 2022 Crystal Apple Award winners. They included Kevin Gilbertson, a fifth grade teacher at Grant Elementary in Marshfield.
“So, why do we do this? I always struggle with the question about why I teach,” Gilbertson said during his acceptance speech. “It’s fun, it’s hard, it’s creative, it’s energetic and motivating, but it can be frustrating, demanding and sad,” he added. “It’s sharing experiences, building relationships and helping kids to achieve their full potential, both as learners and citizens. But it’s also grief and powerlessness when you see a child struggle because of a home issue or a lack of basic need. In all fairness, I think the Crystal Apple should be looked upon as more than a singular award. One person never does it on their own. It takes a team. If I experience any success or deserve any award, that is because my team is there with me. Therefore, I’d like to accept this Crystal Apple Award on behalf of my team and my family.”
Gilbertson earned his elementary education degree at UW-Eau Claire, and has 28 years of teaching experience, the past 17 at Grant.
Also among this year’s winners is Kim Kolstad, a counselor at Marshfield Middle School. Kolstad deflected some of the credit for her award to her colleagues.
“In a time of trying to stay positive amid all of the negative news reports, we’ve got this,” Kolstad stated. “Even when we think our students aren’t listening, they are. We may not see it in the moment, but it shows when they are working in the community. It might not be right away, but the effects that you have on your students are there, even if we don’t always get to see it. So thank you, to each and every one of you, for all that you do to support our students, their families and each other. You do make a difference.”
Kolstad has 24 years of experience in education, the past nine at Marshfield Middle School. Meanwhile, the Pittsville School District celebrated its fourth Crystal Apple Award winner in three years. After claiming two awards two years ago and another last year, Business Education instructor Jordan Rayburn – a Pittsville native – became the latest recipient this year.
“The school district has provided me with a great education, and they believed in me enough to give me a job, to coach and teach in the school district,” Rayburn said. “The reason I originally got into teaching was my passion for personal finance. I wanted to share the difference it made in my life with others.”
Rayburn has been in education for six years, after earning his degree from UW-Stout.
Like Rayburn, Jessica Schier teaches at her alma mater, and is the first Crystal Apple winner from Granton in eight years.
“As a young child I always dreamed of being a teacher in the school that helped me to become the person I am today,” Schier told the audience during her acceptance speech. “My goal was to make a difference in the lives of my students, just as some of my former teachers did for me, and I’m honestly so proud to be doing just that, in almost the exact same classroom that I had as a fourth-grade student. My goal really every day is to provide my students with the most fun and engaging opportunities that I know they may never experience outside of our community. Above all, my role as a teacher is so much more than teaching content, but it’s rather teaching my students on how to be really great adults when they get older. My role centers around the bond that I form with my students, both inside and outside of my classroom, and personalizing learning to meet their individual needs in safe, engaging and fun ways.”
Schier has taught at Granton Elementary since graduating from UW-Oshkosh in 2017.
The remaining Teachers of Distinction for 2022 include Loralei Berry and Joren Anderson from Auburndale, Mike Iwanski from Columbus Catholic in Marshfield, Jennifer Brock from St. John’s Primary and OLP in Marshfield, Shannon Malone and Abbi Roehrborn from Spencer, Amber Schultz from Grant Elementary in Marshfield, Washington Elementary’s Taylor Seehafer, Lori Steingraber of Immanuel Lutheran in Marshfield, Amanda Schlough and Kelsey Hoverson of Greenwood, Lincoln Elementary’s Elizabeth Heath; Madison Elementary instructor Travis Kundinger; Angela Weigel from Marshfield Middle School, Eric Bowman & Timothy Bergelin from Marshfield High School, Nasonville Elementary’s Kimberli Dammann; Amy Kosmosky and Amy Gerhardt from Neillsville, veteran Pittsville Elementary teacher Lisa Denniston and Diana Meyer from St. Joseph’s in Stratford.