The Dubuque Community School District Teacher of the Year was named at the annual Educators’ Recognition Dinner on May 5, hosted by the school district and the Dubuque Education Association.
Louie Fischer, an English teacher at Dubuque Senior High School, was selected for the honor. Fischer has taught at Senior since 2005. Outside the classroom, he is also the coach of Senior’s girls cross country team. “In his English classroom, student engagement is a specialty for Louie,” said one of his nominators. “Louie finds a variety of ways to tie literature and writing into students’ personal lives, thus making the learning relevant for students. Students look forward to attending his class every day.”
Other finalists for the Teacher of the Year Award were:
- Lisa Dolphin, a fourth-grade teacher at Kennedy Elementary School
- Kris Hermsen, a kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Elementary School
- Sandra Hoerner, a social studies teacher at Hempstead High School
- Todd Kress, a career technical education teacher at Dubuque Senior High School
- Mary Martin, a counselor at Hempstead High School
- Ann Seamer, a wellness teacher at Irving Elementary School
- Nicole Thor, an English Teacher at the Alternative Learning Center
- Angie Wessels, a social studies teacher at Dubuque Senior High School
- Annette Wohlers, an instructional coach at Audubon Elementary School
At the dinner, two other special awards were presented. Dale Lass, principal of Roosevelt Middle School, received the TEAM (Together Educators and Administrators Make-it-happen) Award presented to an administrator for exemplary support of teacher success. Lass will retire at the conclusion of this school year following a 42-year career in education.
Gary Reid, who taught at Washington Middle School from 1967 through 2009, received the Friend of Education Award. For 50 years, he was also co-supervisor of the Dubuque Leisure Services playground program, extending his passion for education outside the classroom.