BY MIKE WARREN

EDITOR

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation has announced its four Crystal Apple Award winners for 2023, as part of the 20th annual recognition program. The winners were announced March 1, with surprise visits to their schools.

This year’s winners include Kendra Haessly of Grant Elementary in Marshfield, just the third two-time winner of the award – which she also received in 2013. Haessly is a kindergarten teacher, and is in her final year. She will retire from teaching in June, after 21 years, including the past 14 at Grant. Haessly earned a degree in Early Childhood Education from UW-Stout in 1988 and a Master’s Degree in Education from UW-River Falls in 2010.  

After being nominated several times in the past, Taylor Varsho is winning her first Crystal Apple. Varsho has been teaching since 2017 and is in her second year as a seventh-grade Health instructor at Marshfield Middle School. She is a graduate of the University of Sioux Falls, with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Elementary and Special Education. Varsho is currently enrolled in the Masters program at UW-River Falls.

Jake Scheppler has seven years of experience and is in his fifth year of teaching Physical Education and Health courses at Marshfield High School. He is a 2012 graduate of UW-Marshfield/Wood County and a 2016 graduate of UW-Eau Claire.

Our fourth and final Crystal Apple winner this year is Ron Klein of Pittsville Elementary School. Ron has 21 years of teaching experience, the last nine at Pittsville Elementary, where he is now serving as Dean of Students. He has also taught second and third grade and served as Math Interventionist until last November. Klein is a 1997 graduate of UW-Marshfield/Wood County and a 2001 graduate of UW-Stevens Point, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

The remaining 2022-23 Teachers of Distinction include Carla MacArthur from Marshfield High School and Danielle Wilke of Marshfield Middle School. Other Teachers of Distinction from Marshfield are: Alanna Hart from Columbus Catholic; Courtney Gable of Immanuel Lutheran; James Kelty, St. John’s Primary/Our Lady of Peace; Becky Whitrock from Grant Elementary; Judy Nicksic of Lincoln Elementary; Marilee Critelli from Madison Elementary; Kristi Vantassel of Nasonville Elementary; Christy Treankler of Washington Elementary.

Other area Teachers of Distinction include: Jennifer Wilke, Spencer Middle/High School, Wendy Comstock, Spencer Elementary; Cody Schmidt, Auburndale Middle/High School; Corey Bugar, Auburndale Elementary; Valerie Bradfish, St. Joseph’s Catholic in Stratford; Andrew Radloff, Granton Schools; Alix Madden, Pittsville High School; Penny Wehrs, Greenwood High School; Stacia Jacoby, Greenwood Elementary; Julia Backaus, Neillsville Middle/High School; Monika Luebke, Neillsville Elementary.

Partners in Educational Excellence and Workforce Development received a total of 1,512 nominations for 362 different teachers.

All Teachers of Distinction will be honored at the Crystal Apple Awards banquet to be held Thursday, May 4 at Hotel Marshfield.