Bruggeman receives Crystal Bell Award

Daletta Bruggeman, a fourth grade teacher at Franklin Elementary, is the 2004 Crystal Bell Award recipient. (Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) [Click to enlarge]

Daletta Bruggeman, a fourth grade teacher at Franklin Elementary School, was named the Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell Award winner at the LCSD Foundation Awards Banquet Monday evening.

The "Teacher of the Year" award is jointly sponsored by the LCSD Foundation and the Le Mars Community School District Alumni Association, with the purpose to recognize and honor teachers who demonstrate excellence in education by meeting the needs of their students, and to financially reward teachers who exemplify the excellence celebrated by the Decades of Excellence Reunion 2000.

Also honored during the evening program were LCS Employees of the Month, the top five percent students in the senior class for academic excellence, and 25-year employees of the district.

Kerri Petersen of the LCSD Foundation and Denise Anthony of the LCSD Alumni Association presented the award to Bruggeman. There were two nominees this year, Bruggeman and Kris Mohning, an 8th grade reading and language arts teacher.

"Both of these teachers are cited for meeting the needs of all levels of learners," said Anthony. "Their implementation of differentiated instructional strategies benefit every level of learn to bring them to their fullest potential. Congratulations to both of the nominees."

Those nominating Bruggeman for the award cited her classroom techniques and relationships with her students. Reasons given included:

She has a special way of keeping her students motivated and interested in class.

She treats each student as an individual according to their needs and abilities, and makes sure that the students who need additional help receive it.

She has an uncanny way of motivating her students to learn about new and exciting topics by turning the classroom into such things as a butterfly garden or a rainforest.

She demonstrates great professional leadership by being involved with the CAPS Team which is the communication and problem-solving team.

She has been very instrumental in implementing problem-solving and writing strategies in her classroom, and has helped to form a building-wide discipline plan for Franklin.

She is an outstanding teacher who gives 110 percent of her time to the children in her class.

Dave Horken, principal at Franklin Elementary, wrote, "This nominee has been especially successful in meeting the academic, as well as the social needs, of all students in her classroom. . . . Her genuine caring for children, parents and staff, and her hard work and diligence exemplify the qualities of an outstanding teacher."

Bruggeman was presented with the Crystal Bell Award, a gift of $500 from the Foundation to be used in the classroom as she sees fit and $500 from the Alumni Association which can be used however she chooses.

Bruggeman gave several thank yous in acknowledging the award, and then made a special one.

"I especially want to thank my parents. They're the people who instilled in me a work ethic and a a never give up attitude. Their goal for me in high school was 'you are going to college and you will have a career.' That goal turned into a lifelong educational journey and one that I'm proud of. I've been at Le Mars for over 18 years and I've never looked back. And I've never had a better opportunity to help children achieve their goals," Bruggeman said.

"I dedicate this award to all the teacher in the district, most of all to the parents," she concluded.

This year, Bruggeman has 20 students in her class, down from the usual 24 to 25.

"I love them," she said of her students. She finds time to give them the special attention and help they need.

"I work with them usually after school and recess," she said. "I have moms come in too. If they want to volunteer and come in, I use them."

Currently she has three mothers come in Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to help tutor the students.

"I've taught the parents what do to and how to do it and they take right over," she said.

"This who school district is a great place to work. I'll never go anywhere else," she said.

Bruggeman has been in Le Mars 18 years, and has taught for 20 years.

"I've always been a fourth grade teacher, I never get tired of them. I've found my niche," she said. Bruggeman is also working on her master's degree.

Two Le Mars Community Schools employees were honored for 25 years with the district.

Tim Kass has been involved with maintenance of Le Mars Community School since 1974. He started as fulltime custodian at what is now the middle school, and in December of 1983 he became the head custodian at Kissinger Elementary in Merrill, where he continues today. He finds it interesting and rewarding to help students and teachers, and has even helped a teacher teach a unit on simple machines, demonstrating some of the machines in the classroom.

Janet Van Leeuwen spent her first five years at Kluckhohn Elementary as classroom aide in combined first and second grade areas. She has spent the rest of her time as the IMC aide for Clark Elementary, which she calls a perfect fit for her. Her favorite memories have always been seeing children and their excitement over being able to "read a whole book" for the first time by themselves.

Eight Le Mars Community High School seniors were honored for academic excellence. They are Brittani Boyd, daughter of Mike and Jill Boyd; Corinne Jones, daughter of Kent and Gail Jones; Jameson Sabin, son of Mitchell and Diane Sabin; Daniel Friedrichs, son of Mark and Sandy Friedrichs; Mike Kayser, son of Francis and Diane Kayser; Tiffany Jelken, daughter of Bryon and Faye Jelken; Elizabeth Knuth, daughter of Randy and Brenda Knuth and Vince Mertes, son of Jim and Tomoko Mertes.

Five district employees of the month were also honored. They are: Linda Cline, first grade teacher at Franklin; Leroy Wichers, industrial technology teacher in the middle school and high school; Verda Marienau, long-term substitute teacher at Clark; Lynn Janssen, special assistant to the Foundation Board; and Nancy Charlson, teacher's aid for pre-school special students at Clark.