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Des Moines - 2010
 Distinguished Club Award
2008 - 2009
Distinguished Club Award
2007 - 2008
2008 Award Recipient
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Teacher of the Year
Started
in 2002, an outstanding teacher is selected from Des Moines Public
(Elementary) Schools each year.
Joseph Adrian (2008 - 2009)
The Kiwanis Club of Des Moines (Downtown) announced its 2009 Teacher of the Year on June 3, 2009: Joseph Adrain, fifth grade teacher at Phillips Traditional School. A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mr. Adrian has taught school in the Des Moines Public School System for 20 years, all at Phillips Traditional. Mr. “A”, as he is known to his students, is a graduate of Drake University where he received his BA in Sociology in 1986 and a Masters in Education in 1989.
“Mr. Adrian has developed a family of learners who not only strive to excel, but also care about each other. He’s the first in line to help any student or teacher,” said his principal, Ms. Laurel Prior-Sweet. “Mr. A is a positive, nurturing teacher who always has high expectations of his students. He brings out their best!”
In making this year’s selection, Luke Garnaas, committee chair, stated, “We were impressed at how Mr. Adrian reaches out to support school and community activities while furthering the mission of Phillips Traditional in a challenging environment.” Mr. A said that the biggest challenge he faces is the constant changes in kids’ family and home environment. “I try to help the kids feel good about themselves. I love watching them grow despite numerous negative issues in their lives.”
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Jan Burch and Michelle Wall present the Teacher of the Year
award to "Mr. A". |
Nicole
Banegas (2007 - 2008)
In what has become an annual tradition, the Kiwanis Club of Des
Moines
(Downtown) announced its 2008 Teacher of the Year on May 23, 2008.
Nicole Banegas, fifth grade teacher at Lovejoy Elementary School,
is this year’s recipient. An Iowa native, Mrs. Banegas is
just completing her third year of teaching at Lovejoy. She is a
1999 graduate of Indianola High School, and a 2004 graduate of Simpson
College, both in Indianola, Iowa.
“Mrs. Banegas has developed a family of learners who not only
strive to excel, but also care about each other. She’s the
first in line to help any student or teacher,” said her principal,
Dr. Peg Floden. “Nicole is a positive, nurturing teacher who
always has high expectations of her students. She brings out their
best!”
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2007
- 2008 Teacher of the Year, Nicole Banegas is congratulated
by students, family, and friends. |
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Club President, Jan Burch, congratulates
Nicole. |
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Paul Strayer and Lovejoy Elementary Principal,
Dr. Peg Floden, applaud Nicole's accomplishment. |
Rachel Kuperman (2005 -
2006)
The
most recipient is Ms. Rachel Kuperman. She is a fifth grade teacher
at Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Des Moines, and was selected
from a field of nearly 80 nominations from ten elementary schools
in the Des Moines Public School system. The award was presented
to Ms. Kuperman at a surprise all-student assembly at her school
on Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Ms.
Kuperman is relatively new to the teaching profession and is her
second year as a fifth grade teacher at Pleasant Hill Elementary.
Growing up in West Des Moines, she graduated from Valley High School,
then attended the University of Iowa where she graduated with an
education degree with a double minor in reading and social sciences.
In 2005, Ms. Kuperman was named Woman of the Year by the Des Moines
chapter of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
This
award is presented annually to a deserving Des Moines Public School
elementary teacher. The recipient is selected based upon information
solicited through the students. One of Ms. Kuperman's students said,
“She is not much older than us so she can relate to our problems
and help find solutions”. Another said, “She always
compliments me whenever I do something good or improve my grades...with
kids she always seems to know what to do.”
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Bob Mitchell presents Rachel Kuperman
with her
Teacher of the Year award. |
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Kymberly Stein, Principal, Pleasant Hill
Elementary,
presents Rachel with congratulatory flowers. |
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Rachel with family, friends, and representatives
of
Downtown Des Moines Kiwanis. |
Kari Wolfe-Guess (2002 -
2003)
The
recipient of the first annual award (for the 2002 - 2003 school
year) was Kari Wolfe-Guess. She is a fifth grade teacher at Cowles
Elementary School, Des Moines, and was selected from a field of
nearly 80 nominations from ten elementary schools in the Des Moines
Public School system. The award was presented to Ms. Wolfe-Guess
at a regular meeting of the Des Moines School Board.
Ms.
Wolfe-Guess is a 1981 graduate of the University of Montana and
has been teaching for more than 20 years. She received her Masters
Degree in elementary education from Viterbo College, LaCrosse, Wisconsin,
in 2002. A resident of Jefferson, Iowa, she is a certified Montessori
instructor and a former sergeant in the U.S. Air Force: having served
in Germany and in Georgia.
As
a fifth grade teacher, she received twice the nominations received
by other teachers. According to her student nominators, she “understands
my problems”, “is nice and helps us learn by different
angles”, “is a good problem solver”, and “she
has patience and acts like she likes kids”. Above all, according
to one student, “she rocks!”
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Past
Kiwanis President Bob Mitchell presents Teacher of the Award
recognition plaque to Kari Wolfe-Guess following a
Des Moines School Board monthly meeting. |
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