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To Albert Lea Teacher of the Year Wendy Greenfield.

Hats off to Southwest Middle School teacher Wendy Greenfield, who this week was named the 2024 Albert Lea Area Schools Teacher of the Year.

Greenfield teaches seventh-grade social studies and also works as an instructional coach for other teachers and it was clear from the ceremony that she is an inspiration to both students and teachers alike.

She has taught at the middle school for 28 years.

Greenfield credited the other teachers she has worked with over the years and accepted the award on behalf of all of the teachers who supported her over the years.

Congratulations also to the other finalists for the recognition this year: Sophie Claussen, Jeff Groth, Andrew Gustafson, Mindy Kruger, Therese Netzer and Erika Youlden.

The Albert Lea school district is better for having you be a part of it.

To the Albert Lea City Council’s approval to purchase and install equipment for the All Together Albert Lea Inclusive Playground.

We and many others were pleased to see the City Council on Monday vote to approve two contracts for building the new inclusive playground at Edgewater Park. The contracts included $319,000 for the equipment itself and about $426,000 for the installation of the rubberized surface that will make up the floor at the park and the assembly of the equipment.

The vote comes as a group of residents has been raising money for the playground for the past 2 1/2 years and so far has raised about $970,000, including a $350,000 contribution from the city.

The playground will likely be built later this year and will be a tremendous resource for the community, allowing individuals of all abilities to play together.

The committee is still fundraising for additional needs at the park, including sewer and water installation for a future restroom, as well as a parking lot next to the playground. If you’re interested in being a part of this legacy project, tax-deductible donations can be sent to the Albert Lea Chamber Foundation at 132 N. Broadway.

To the rising Albert Lea journalists.

Congratulations to the team of Albert Lea High School journalism students who earlier this month attended a national high school journalism convention and came away with two awards in the Best in Show competition.

The awards included junior Rosa Corey-Gruenes, who won ninth place for editorial leadership as the editor-in-chief of print for the Ahlahasa newspaper and the Imag literary magazine. The second award went to Corey-Gruenes, junior Piper Aanes and sophomore Kae Bee, who won first place in Magazine Design for the Imag.

We hope their passion for journalism continues after high school as they make decisions about what to do next. Journalism is a rewarding profession that provides a critical service to the community, and we hope they choose to be a part of it.