Editorial: Teachers are dedicated to educating kids
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 6, 2005
We congratulate Tom Dyrdal for being chosen District 241 Teacher of the Year.
All five finalists are dedicated educators who represent District 241 well.
Dyrdal, in particular, has been dedicated to students in Albert Lea for a long time &045; 22 years, to be exact.
Now an elementary physical education specialist and adapted physical education teacher at Hawthorne Elementary, he also coaches boys’ tennis, the Hawthorne Hot Steppers Jump Rope Team and The Tigers of Tomorrow Ball Handling Team. He’s earned his master’s degree in special education and has also taught special education.
Dyrdal is one of those people who, after leaving the community to attend college and teach elsewhere for a few years, found his hometown beckoning him to come home and raise his family.
He and his wife, Malinda, have two children at Albert Lea High School.
He’s also a person who practices what he preaches: His hobbies include golf, tennis, reading, fishing, walking and biking, and attending his children’s sporting events. In an era where Americans &045; even youngsters &045; are being criticized for being sedentary, his job is becoming more and more important as he tries to make health and fitness a fun habit for young people to get into. Dyrdal also serves as a member of the District Health/Physical Education Committee.
Dyrdal has been a finalist for District 241 Teacher of the Year a few other times, so it’s obvious he has consistently continued his commitment to education.
We applaud the choice of Tom Dyrdal as this year’s teacher of the year.