Teacher of the year nominees come from all over the district

Staff

Published Saturday, March 30, 2002

The District 241 Teacher of the Year will be named at a reception at 3:30 p.

Saturday, March 30, 2002

The District 241 Teacher of the Year will be named at a reception at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in the commons area at Albert Lea High School. The following teachers have been named finalists for the 2002 Teacher of the Year.

Dianne Distad has been with District 241 for 33 years. She teaches fourth grade at Halverson Elementary School.

Distad has a bachelor of science degree from Mankato State University and her master of education degree from the University of Minnesota, plus 30 credits.

Within District 241, she is involved on the insurance committee, staff development committee, quality air committee, Albert Lea Education Association Executive Board and Albert Lea Education Association Negotiations Committee.

She and her husband, Dennis, have a son, Andrew. She enjoys reading, traveling and gardening.

As a teacher, Distad said her goal is to instill in students a sense of self-esteem and independence. "I want them to always want to do their best, and feel safe in taking chances, knowing I'm there for them to offer help when needed," she said.

Ken Fiscus has been teaching with District 241 for 10 1/2 years. He teaches Earth and space science at Albert Lea High School.

Fiscus earned his master of arts in education from Hamline University.

Among his school activities are leading the South Central Minnesota Stargazers, the local astronomy club; serving on the curriculum writing team on a new Earth and space science systems package for sixth-grade standard; serving as occasional master of ceremonies for the District 241 Science Fair; presenting the annual "Walk Through the Solar System" held each year outside Hollandale; and serving as a community education instructor of casual astronomy, model airplane instruction and four levels of model rocketry.

Fiscus has been a Teacher of the Year finalist on two other occasions, and has been a three-time presenter at the Minnesota Earth Science Teachers Association conferences at the Science Museum of Minnesota. He was also a presenter at the Science Museum of Minnesota's Space Science Conference and serves as a board member of the Minnesota Earth Science Teachers' Association. He was the only teacher in Minnesota selected to work at the University of Minnesota in the summer of 1994 at the Research Exploration for Teachers Infrared Astronomy Lab. He built and installed equipment at the University of Minnesota Observatory for observations of the collision between a comet and the planet Jupiter.

Fiscus and his wife, Kelli, are the parents of a son, Rigel, 4, adopted from India, and a daughter, Meridian, 2, adopted from Thailand. Both Ken and Kelli Fiscus are natives of Nebraska. They have traveled over 16,000 miles to witness three solar eclipses.

Fiscus also enjoys hunting, flying radio-controlled airplanes and fishing. His lifetime goals include becoming a published astronomy and children's book author and becoming a published poet.

James Haney has been teaching with District 241 for 13 years. He teaches social studies at Albert Lea High School, Humanities Social 11 and Advanced Placement Government.

Haney has a bachelor's degree in social studies from University of North Dakota and a master's degree in history from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Haney serves on the K-12 Social Studies Committee and the Building Leadership Team at ALHS.

Haney is a member of Ascension Lutheran Church. He was on the first Citizens Police Academy sponsored by the Albert Lea Police Department.

Haney and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Ben,10, and Morgan, 6, and a dog, Belle. His hobbies include watching movies and sporting events.

His professional goal, Haney said, is to "continue to provide my students a better understanding of the world around them and to get students to appreciate the past to understand the future."

Lynda Kiesler has been with District 241 for five years. She currently teaches biology, zoology and chemistry at Albert Lea High School. Previously, she taught physical science at Southwest Middle School.

Kiesler has a bachelor's degree is from Mankato State University in biology and general science. She received her master of science degree in May of 2001 from Southwest State University. Her specialty areas for this degree are science teaching and educational leadership. Her master's thesis work was parental involvement in the science classroom.

During her four years at Southwest Middle School, Kiesler was involved in the K-12 Science Committee; Building Leadership Team; District Teaching and Learning Council; was student council advisor, talent show advisor and served on the social committee. She was also a Washington, D.C. chaperone for the ninth grade summer trip for two years. This year, she has been active as junior high boys' basketball coach, as Tiger's Roar advisor/ director, on the Teaching and Learning Council, and on the K-12 Science Committee.

"It is my belief that an individual should try new things in life on a yearly basis," Kiesler said, adding that this year she concentrated on teaching and learning new subject matter, including biology, zoology and chemistry, as well as coaching. Next year, she plans to learn to speak Spanish and play the piano.

Kiesler said she would like to eventually earn her doctorate degree as well as expand on her biology degree and take more classes in that area for her enjoyment.

Tom Knudtson is in his 31st year with District 241. He teaches second grade at Lakeview Elementary School after spending his first 12 years at Clarks Grove Elementary teaching sixth grade.

Knudtson has a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Winona State College and earned his master of science degree and his learning disabilities license from Mankato State University.

Knudtson currently serves on the district science committee. He has been on the inquiry team and was chairman of the district reading committee.

Within the community, Knudtson is on the education committee and the staff/parish relations committee at Albert Lea United Methodist Church.

He and his wife, Judy, have two children, Siri and Ted.

Knudtson said his goals are to make learning fun and challenging for all kids. "I try to help students become interested in learning to solve problems by piquing their interest in hands-on science and technology. Kids need to become the best readers, mathematicians and thinkers they can to solve the problems that interest them or they find necessary to solve in everyday life," he said.

Kathie Lein has been with District 241 for nine years. She is a special education teacher at Halverson Elementary School.

A graduate of Albert Lea High School, Lein has a bachelor's degree in special education from Winona State University. She will graduate in May with a master's degree in education from Saint Mary's University in Winona.

Within District 241, Lein is involved on the building technology committee, special education advisory committee and the building staff development committee.

Her family includes husband Ross, and three children, Mina, 8, Carol, 6, and Herbie, 3.

Lein enjoys spending her free time with her children reading books, watching movies, scrap booking, and having bonfires at her parents' farm just outside Glenville. "Family time is important to me and definitely a priority in my life," she said.

Lein said working in her classroom is never routine or predictable. "I continue to be surprised daily by my students' will and determination to succeed in even the most difficult of tasks. It's absolutely amazing what some of my students have to deal with and overcome on a daily basis just to do things that many of us take for granted like sitting down and reading a book or figuring a math problem. I really feel connected with my students and work hard to show them I care about them.

She has a sign hanging near her desk that reads, "In every difficult or troubled time, a student ought to be able to look around and see a teacher standing in his or her corner."

"I try my best to be that person for each and every one of my students," she said.

Robert J. Rowe has taught for 32 years in District 241: 14 years at Southwest Junior High School and 18 years at Albert Lea High School. He teaches or has taught: precalculus, advanced placement calculus, practical math computer applications in math, algebra 2, life skills math and basic skills math.

Rowe earned his undergraduate degree at Mankato State University in mathematics and physical education. He earned his master's degree in mathematics education from Western Michigan University.

He has served as department head (or building leadership team) for 12 years at the high school. His committee work includes the K-12 Mathematics Committee, building design team for the new high school, staff development committee, technology committee, high school appeals committee and the safety committee.

Rowe has also served as a mentor to several new high school mathematics staff members. He taught summer school for several years, working with the students that have not passed the Basic Standards Math Test. He was responsible for re-establishing the calculus course, which had been dropped from the high school curriculum for 10 years.

In addition, Rowe coached wrestling at junior high and high school for 20 years and coached junior high football and track. He has been part of the weigh-in staff (and floor crew) at the State Wrestling Tournament for 10 years. He has served as site-manager for the home wrestling meets for several years, and was the tournament director for several individual and team sectional (regional) tournaments that were hosted by Albert Lea. He also served as treasurer for six years for the Albert Lea Federation of Teachers.

His family includes his wife, Joni, nurse manager of the Rehab Unit at Albert Lea Medical Center. They have three children: Kim, David and Kari.

Rowe said his goal as a teacher is to prepare the students for the problem solving (both math and non-math) that will take place in the next part of their lives. "I try to make that experience an enjoyable one," he said.

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