Nearly 170 people attended the
Janesville Area Council - Parent Teacher Association 30th Annual Awards
Banquet. The celebration honored JAC-PTA’s outstanding volunteers, teachers,
school support staff, businesses and students with a dinner and presentation at
the historic Armory, downtown Janesville, on May 23, 2013.
Mary Orley, WI PTA Secretary and Edison PTA President, stepped to
the podium to present the awards. A gift of $100 each was given to the PTAs of
the year’s Unity, Volunteer, Support Staff Person, and Teacher of the Year
Award winners. The $400 from the Janesville Education Foundation (JEF),
presented by JEF President, Roberta Blazkowski, is a generous gesture to the
PTAs to continue to “pay it forward.”
The Unity Award is given to
businesses that work with the PTAs. Unity Award nominees included Jim and Ellen
Purviance, owners of Dairy Queen on West Court Street; Edmund Halabi, owner of
the Italian House, and Pete Drozdowicz of E & D Waterworks and Chris Brose,
owner of El Ra Bowl.
Chris Brose was chosen as the
winner of the 2012-2013 Unity Award for El Ra Bowl’s long standing commitment
and encouragement to Janesville’s youth. Mr. Brose makes bowling accessible to
all students throughout Janesville. Bowling is a healthy and safe sport and
form of recreation with an emphasis in team building.
The Volunteer of Year was chosen from the following nominees:
Nancy
Bennett, Adams Elementary School
Leslie
Wente, Edison Middle School
Theresa
Vellella, Jackson Elementary School
Tami
Troeger, Jefferson Elementary School
Jim
& Candy Nicholson, Lincoln Elementary School
Kyla
Raupp, Madison Elementary School
Ann
Walsh, Marshall Middle School
Denise
Molidor, Monroe Elementary School
Jack
& Sharon Torpy, Roosevelt Elementary School
Tami
Carlson, Van Buren Elementary School
Roberta
Blazkowski, Washington Elementary School
The 2012-2013 JAC-PTA Volunteer of the Year, Leslie Wente, was nominated for her tireless,
“under the radar” volunteerism at Edison Middle School, JAC-PTA, Wilson
Elementary School, her church, and so much more with compassion and unassuming
generosity.
Support staff members
are the “behind the scenes” reasons we succeed. The nominees for this honor
include:
Beth Shepherd, Adams
Elementary School
Teri Behm, Edison Middle
School
Cathy Ryder, Franklin
Middle School
Kelley Hansen, Jackson
Elementary School
Tonya Richter, Jefferson
Elementary School
Valerie Griffith, Madison
Elementary School
Denise Rankin, Marshall
Middle School
April Palmer, Monroe
Elementary School
Lisa Ramirez, Roosevelt
Elementary School
Guidance Office Secretary, Teri
Behm, Edison Middle School PTA Support Staff Person of the Year,
received the award for JAC-PTA Support Staff Person of the Year. Mrs. Behm is
fondly thought of as the “triage go-to-person” when you need something or
you’re just having a bad day at Edison. She also is a leader of the Edison
Builder’s Club (a Kiwanis Service club).
Teri stated, “That’s just what I do. I am there for the kids.”
The 2013 JAC-PTA
Teacher of the Year winner was announced from the following nominees:
Dottie May, Adams
Elementary School
Dan Murray, Edison Middle
School
Michol Startup, Franklin
Middle School
Jan Stark, Jackson
Elementary School
Joan Jimenez, Jefferson
Elementary School
Dana Simmons, Lincoln
Elementary School
Lisa Plewa, Madison
Elementary School
Deb O’Leary, Marshall
Middle School
Lisa Haberli, Monroe
Elementary School
Neal Boys, Parker High
School
Chris Campbell, Roosevelt
Elementary School
Amanda Mory, Van Buren
Elementary School
Gee Gee Jannene,
Washington Elementary School
The Teacher of the Year, Lisa
Haberli, is extremely dedicated to the academic, fitness, health and
overall well-being of the students at Monroe Elementary School and the success
of their PTA.
State of Wisconsin
PTA President, Heather Leckey, then spoke.
“PTA members’ and supporters’ contributions are invaluable to our school
programs and students. Thousands of students would suffer without those who
selflessly sacrifice their time to help.”
Heather has been involved with PTA for more than a decade and has held
the positions of president, treasurer and secretary for elementary and middle
schools in Janesville. She has served the Janesville Area Council PTA in the
capacity of vice president and liaison from Wisconsin PTA. Additionally she has
served on the Wisconsin PTA Board of Directors in the position of Region D
Advisor and Vice President.
Among those celebrating at the dinner were Superintendent,
Dr. Karen Schulte; Commissioners Kristin Hesselbacher, Cathy Myers, and Karl
Dommershausen; and JAC-PTA secondary schools liaison, Edison Middle School
Principal Jim LeMire.
Renae Henry, 2013-2015 JAC-PTA President closed the
event, stating, “You volunteer not because you have more time or money, but
because you care. Your heart is filled with compassion for our children and
their education. Words cannot express how grateful we are to have you here. It
is both a privilege and honor to reap the rewards of your tireless dedication
and contributions to PTA.”
Mrs. Henry then read a personal letter written by National
PTA President-Elect, Otha Thornton. He wrote, “I am proud of your
accomplishments and look forward to greater achievements next year.” He
encouraged us not to miss the opportunity to continue advocating for proper
funding, arts, music, and foreign languages in our schools. In conclusion, as
you prepare for the coming school year, please keep Mr. Thornton’s quote in
mind, “Excellence is not an act, but rather a habit.”
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