Le Mars Daily Sentinel: Local News: Former teacher turned author returns to Hinton

(Photo contributed) Retired Hinton School teacher Jane Kauzlarich will be in Hinton Wednesday signing copies of her book "Quack." The book went on sale in August. During her visit Kauzlarich will also play her guitar and sing a song she wrote about the book with Hinton elementary students.
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Jane Kauzlarich wrote her book "Quack," then she published it and began selling it and now she's written a song about it.

Kauzlarich, a retired Hinton Community School teacher, will be reading "Quack" and singing with pre-kindergarten through fifth graders Wednesday at the school.

"There are parts of the song where the kids can sing along with me on a certain part of the refrain. It's a way to get the kids fired up," Kauzlarich said last week in a phone interview from her home in Arnolds Park.

Kauzlarich will also be signing copies of "Quack" at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the library at Hinton Community School, where she taught high school business and English 34 years.

She will also be signing books at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday at Tucker Hill Winery, on Titan Road in Marrland Heights.

The Hinton winery is owned by Kauzlarich's former accounting student, Brenda Dittmer, and her husband Barry.

"Brenda was such a nice kid," Kauzlarich said. "It's pretty cool that they invited me to come up to the winery."

Kauzlarich wrote "Quack" along with eight other children's books in her "I'd Like To Be" Animal Series in 2007.

"Quack" was the first book to be published this past June and went on sale in August.

Kauzlarich's already sold some Hinton people books and she hopes the 180 she's bringing this week will be enough.

"I've heard from all kinds of former students that found me on Facebook are driving up from all sorts of places for the signing at the winery," Kauzlarich said. "That means a lot to me."

The next book to be completed in her series about a little girl who wants to be some kind of animal is "If I Were a Salamander."

Kauzlarich said her illustrator is currently working on the book, but there's no completion time frame set as to when it will be finished, published and go on sale.

"We do have salamanders all over northwest Iowa," Kauzlarich said. "I want kids to get over the idea that it's something slippery and scary."

Looking forward to this event. She was probably one of the BEST teachers I ever had. Not only did she teach classroom things, but life skills as well. I only wish my children could have had the opportunity to have Kauz for a teacher. She was from the era of teachers that truly cared and wanted to be a teacher - not just for the job. I cherish the time I spent in her classroom and the relationship we have maintained through the years since.

-- Posted by hintonresident on Mon, Sep 21, 2009, at 2:04 PM

Congrats Kauz. You were & have always been my favorite teacher in school. You helped me so much you can't even realize. Every student deserves a teacher like you. I am so glad that Brandon had the opportunity to have you as a sub, he thought you were cool also. I have really enjoyed your facebook entries & comments on my page. It's cool reading everything you are doing. Good luck with the book & congrats again.

-- Posted by blondie868 on Mon, Sep 21, 2009, at 4:47 PM