Four Named Friends of Education in Lakeville

Editor’s Note: The following is a press release from Lakeville Area Public Schools.

Each year the Lakeville Area Public Schools present Friends of Education Awards to honor outstanding individual contributions to the Lakeville Schools. The awards recognize people whose service has been on-going in one of these categories: Volunteer Service, Business Partnerships, Distinguished Service, Human Service, and Education. The awards were presented at the 2012 Staff Recognition Reception on April 25, 2012 at Century Middle School.

This year’s recipients were Bob Finke, Distinguished Service; Teri Malecha, Volunteer Service; JoAnne Andres, The Arts; and Bob Curtin, Education.

Here is information about each award recipient:

• Bob Finke, Distinguished Service—Bob has served the Lakeville Area Public Schools continuously for many, many years. When he finishes serving on one committee, he goes to the next. 

Bob was a dedicated, involved member of the Curriculum Advisory Council, Community Education Advisory Council, and the Financial Advisory Council. He has served on STRIVE working as a mentor to students at LSHS.  He has served 4 years as a ticket taker (volunteer) and press box volunteer for LSHS girl's soccer team.  His business posts a large "Go Cougars" sign at Jacquard Ave and County Road 70.

Bob is a believer in serving our students well.  While on the CAC, he voiced the need for serving the low and middle level students.  He influenced other council members.  He put that belief into action by serving on STRIVE as a mentor to high school seniors. He is very conscientious in both his commitment as a mentor and to his students.

Bob currently serves on a community wide committee initiated by 360 Communities.  He is a strong voice for helping early childhood students having the skill they need to be Kindergarten ready.  He also voiced the need to serve all our demographics to levels of excellence.

Bob has demonstrated on going support for the Lakeville Schools for 10 years.  Bob also obtained funding for the MADD Mock Car Crash at LSHS.

Bob Finke is always ready to help and support the athletic program at LSHS.  Bob has picked up a number of signs and equipment at off site locations to deliver to LSHS to save the district time and money. 

Bob can be seen at many Cougar and Panther athletic events.  He is always offering his help.  Bob's love for the Cougars is very obvious when watching events from the stadium.

Bob Finke was recently named the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce-Business and Education Committee.  Bob will be responsible for the yearly organization of numerous events that support our schools.  These events include the Career Jamboree, Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts, Challenge to Change and Promise Wee ice ream social, College Financial Planning Night, Best Prep Summer Camps and the Mock Car Crash.  Bob will over see one of the larger Chamber committees that the average is over twenty members each year.  The role the Chamber plays in partnership with our schools is greatly appreciated and with Bob's leadership, it will remain a strong and vital link to the community.

• Teri Malecha, Volunteer Service—Terri is a very giving person and she is determined to help out wherever necessary.  She works at two locations and gives to both. 

She purchases items for Small Wonders classrooms, picks up teaching supplies, snacks, gift for students, collects Coke points and brings them to the ALC for them to use for supplies. She donates care packages to students in need at the ALC. She donates snacks and special treats to the families in the FELT program (Families Enjoying Learning Together).  She pays attention to where and when the Community has programs that will help others and she makes sure that others know the information so they can share it. She collects Box Tops for Education.  She came in to CEB building when a teacher was doing evening conferences and walked her out to her car so she wouldn't be by herself.  She heard about a student at the ALC that had a baby and needed baby stuff so she bought the baby some things she needed like clothes and diapers.  She will take care of classroom pets over spring break she took care of one classroom's fish.  At the Area Learning Center (ALC) she helps to organize holiday parties, contributes for birthday treats and the year-end picnic.  She donates clothing to many of the children in the FELT (literacy class) in ECFE.

One teacher wrote, "I do a unit on Community Helpers with my preschool class.  This year I asked Terri to come into the classroom and talk about her job.  She really went above and beyond to do this.  First, I couldn't find a book to read to the students that day so she helped me make one.  I took pictures of her doing her various jobs.  I put them together in a Shutterfly book.  The next thing I was planning was an art project.  She came in a week later with 20 dusters (toys) that she had purchased and an idea to make "Bunny Dusters".  They were so cute and fun for the children to make.  The day she cam in she brought many of her "tools" including a backpack vacuum.  She showed the children what she did with the different items.  They loved it!  This is just one example of the type of "above and beyond" things Terri does.  She really puts her heart into the things she does for others.” 

Another example from the ALC-She is always very generous and it is always about the student for her.  She is always willing to go the extra miles no matter what.  She builds a relationship with students so they respect her and she respects them.  The students appreciate everything that she does for them.  She does all of this while doing her job well. 

I have seen this type of support from her year after year after year and we are certain it will continue for many years to come.

• JoAnne Andres, The Arts—JoAnne has been creating and teaching art classes for students with disabilities for more than 8 years.  It is exciting that these students have a professional artist teach them at a real Art Center!  One needs 'special skills' to teach and manage classroom behaviors of students with disabilities, and Joanne has them.  She is visual in her teaching; she is organized, kind, and patient with our students and with any beginners.  She patiently helps them be creative in pottery, painting, jewelry and mosaics.  JoAnne boosts their confidence in themselves and their work.

JoAnne also teaches parent and child art classes to promote cooperation and creativity.  She teaches Stroke Survivors workshops to assist in rehabilitation and self-confidence.  She enjoys seeing her students succeed.  She works year round in all these classes.  She does Summer Art Camps and Kids Workshops for all children.  JoAnne genuinely cares about her students and fostering their creative ability.

She designs projects for her students and does all the prep work.  She is flexible for her student's sake, so much so that she changed the time for her class so her students could also attend Saturday morning Adapted Dance.  JoAnn teaches them patience and thinking skills; she has such a kind, creative learning environment. 

The Lakeville Arts Center is one of the few centers in Minnesota that offers such a variety of adapted classes for students with disabilities.  Her program is a model for other cities to start the same programs.  We are impressed with her willingness to teach these classes year after year.  She's the best.

• Bob Curtin, Education—Bob Curtain is appreciated, respected, and well liked by his colleagues.  He uses the most current instructional methods, as well as the "tried and true".  Bob puts in many hours preparing learning experiences for his students, collaborating with classroom and special education teachers, and communicating with and assisting the families of his students.  Bob also encourages professional growth in his colleagues by presenting weekly email ELL Teaching tips and cultural information.  He has organized monthly ethnic food adventures for staff, and prepared a mini training video to help staff understand SIOP (Sheltered Instruction, Observation Protocol).  Bob has arranged for families to get help with housing, transportation, furnishings and food.  He recorded hundreds of books on CDs so that students could take the book CD sets home to practice reading in English.  Bob was the International Games coordinator for the People's Fair for many years.  This year, Bob Curtain set up a weekly homework help time for students living in Southfork Village.  He recruited staff to help at the weekly 90-minute sessions, and brought teaching materials and games to every session.

Bob always has a positive attitude.  He inspires colleagues to do the best they can for their students an their families. Bob is a leader in the inclusion process (teaching needy students within the general education setting) and RtI (Response to Intervention).  He is an excellent team teacher and intervention team member.  Bob also was the first to develop progress folders for ELL students, documenting their English learning growth.  All the ELL teachers in the district adopted his prototype.

"Bob Curtin is an exemplary teacher because he has stories to grab the students' attention that relate to the target we are discussing. He always goes the extra mile with games and practical uses of subject matter we are working on.  Being an ELL teacher, he knows just what it takes to reach that student that is struggling and will present different approaches to get the idea across.  He uses a lot of expression in his voice when he is reading to the students!  He teaches with compassion and humor.  They naturally gravitate towards him because of these qualities. 

One person wrote, "I love how Bob uses every possible minute to work with the kids.  I love how he walks down the hallway backwards showing flashcards, words, whatever it is he's teaching the kids, as he is taking the kids back to their classrooms.  I see him just about everyday doing this when I'm on my way to start noon duty."