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2012
Education Foundation
Benefit Raises Funds, Honors Teachers, Staff
By DREW VAN DYKE
C-T Writer February 7, 2013
CAPTION: The 2012 Teacher of the Year winner and nominees were recognized
at this year's CEF benefit. Shown here: CEF Board President Ed Douglas;
Nominees Brooke Wolf and Ashley Hawkins; Teacher of the Year winner Tim
Riekena; nominees Leda Schreiner, Tiffany Acree, and Angela Peterson; and
R-2 Superintendent Dr. Roger Barnes.
Drew Van Dyke C-T
Photo
The Chillicothe Education Foundation raised between $15,000 and $20,000 at
its annual benefit dinner, held at the home of Ed Milbank (CEF Board
Director). "That [dollar amount is] pretty normal," said CEF Board President Ed Douglas.
The dinner has been held at Milbank's home for the past 15 years.
"He also very graciously provides all of the food and drink that makes all
of this possible," Douglas said.
Douglas noted that the amount raised annually at the CEF-Milbank benefit
makes up the Foundation's core funding. He provided that approximately
$10,000 is spent annually on the Teacher of the Year awards, $1,500 on the
Beacon Awards, close to $2,500 on teacher recruitment, and $3,500 on teacher mini-grants.
In further explaining the teacher recruitment moneys, Douglas said that
sometimes, if a worthwhile applicant is being pursued within a pool of
candidates for an open position within the district, the education foundation might chip in a small cash bonus to reinforce the
applicant's incentive to become a part of the R-2 family.
"Sometimes, that little gesture can be what it takes," he said.
Douglas said that among the
foundation's recent achievements were the buying of the 60 acres of land near the Chillicothe
High School for possible future district consolidation, as well as taking the lead on the
coordination of the new stadium project. "We've had several towns call and ask how our education foundation
works," he said. During Wednesday's festivities, he mentioned Cameron as one of
those entities.
Just prior to the evening meal, the group gathered for a few moments to
recognize this year's Chillicothe R-2 Teacher of the Year and Beacon Award
(support staff) nominees and winners.
BEACON
AWARD: Carla Meyers, Career Independence / Career Options Aide and Job Coach at
the Grand River Technical School, was recognized as this year's Beacon
Award winner. Fellow candidates Mary Lou Wilhoit (CHS and CACE), Janet
Abbey (CMS), Amy Hand (Central and BMP), Melody Munson (Field), and Connie
Quigley (Dewey and Garrison) were also recognized. Hand and Quigley were
absent from the event.
Drew Van Dyke C-T
Photo
CAPTION: The 2012 Beacon Award winner and nominees were recognized at
Wednesday's CEF benefit.
Shown here: CEF Board President Ed Douglas; Beacon award winner Carla Meyers;
nominees Janet Abbey, Mary Lou Wilhoit, and Melody Munson; and R-2 Superintendent Dr. Roger Barnes.
TOTY: Tim Riekena, Chillicothe Middle School sixth-grade mathematics teacher,
was recognized as this year's Chillicothe R-2 Teacher of the Year. Douglas
noted that Riekena and his wife, Tami, are only the second husband-wife
duo to win the R-2 Teacher of the Year award, behind Dave and Debbie Goodwin.
This year's nominees included: Riekena; Leda Schreiner, representing the
Grand River Technical School; Angela Peterson, representing the Chillicothe High School and CACE; Ashley
Hawkins, representing Central School and the Behavioral Management Program; Tiffany Acree, representing
Field School; and Brooke Wolf, representing Dewey School and Garrison. All
were in attendance on Wednesday.
The winners of this
year's awards were first announced at an assembly at Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center, on Dec. 7.
The Chillicothe Education Foundation Board consists of: Ed Douglas,
President; Mike Turner, Treasurer; Julie McCoy, Director; Dr. Roger Barnes, Superintendent; Ron and Roger Wolf,
Co-Directors, Grand River Technical School; Mary Staton, Director; Edward
P. Milbank, Director; Brenda Fellhoelter, Secretary; Dr. Bruce Brodmerkle,
Director; Lindy Chapman, Director; Robin Westphal, Ad Hoc School Board
member; and Inger Young, Director.
Riekena is R-2 Teacher of the Year
By DREW VAN
DYKE, C-T Writer
Dec. 10, 2012
 CAPTION: Chillicothe Middle School sixth-grade mathematics teacher Tim
Riekena (right), a 29-year employee of the Chillicothe R-2 School District, was awarded the 2012 Chillicothe R-2 Teacher of the Year award
by the Chillicothe Education Foundation on Friday afternoon, December 7, at an
assembly within the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center.
After 32 years of teaching (29 within the Chillicothe R-2 School
District), on Friday afternoon (Dec. 7), Chillicothe Middle School mathematics teacher Tim Riekena
was recognized as the district's 2012 Teacher of the Year at the annual
teacher's recognition banquet held in the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center.
"Good teaching is what makes good students, and good students make up the
future of our community," said Ed Douglas, President of the Chillicothe
Education Foundation - the group which sponsors the award each year.
"I just like the excitement and surprise of finding out [who
wins]."
Riekena, a sixth grade math teacher at the Chillicothe Middle School, has
been teaching within the Chillicothe school system since 1983-84 and was
selected from a pool of six R-2 teachers and teaching assistants, including Leda Schreiner,
representing the Grand River Technical School (who was notably absent from the Friday assembly due to illness); Angela
Peterson, representing the Chillicothe High School and CACE; Ashley Hawkins, representing Central School and the
Behavioral Management Program; Tiffany Acree, representing Field School; and Brooke Wolf,
representing Dewey School and Garrison.
Riekena was chosen for the award because, as colleagues stated,
"He demonstrates a genuine passion for finding the best ways to teach
students. He cares about each of his students and the school as a whole.
Also, Tim is a model citizen as well as a model educator who daily demonstrates what it takes to teach young people. He is a true gentleman
who exhibits high standards and consistency of character. His faith in
God, his commitment to family, his superior teaching techniques, and his
leadership at school have been key assets for his success. His goal of
'What's Best For Kids' is very evident."
Tim enjoys family vacations, camping, bicycling, wood working, reading,
and writing. Tim is married to Dewey School First Grade teacher Tami
Riekena, and they have three children: Kayla (married to Daniel
Leatherman), John (married to Kim Klinginsmith), and Daniel (a junior at
Truman State University, Kirksville).
He joins wife, Tami, in the ranks of Chillicothe R-2 TotY winners (2007-08
school year), making them only the second husband and wife duo to both
receive said award (Debbie and Dave Goodwin). Interestingly enough, both
couples had a five-year span between each individual receiving their award
(Debbie in 2003-04 and Dave in 2008-09, Tami in 2007-08 and Tim in 2012-13),
and, in both instances, the wife received the award prior to her husband.
Those nominated for the Chillicothe R-2
TOTY award receive $500 in cash and $1,000 for education supplies, equipment, or
professional development. The Teacher of the Year is selected by a panel of
judges and receives $1,500 in cash and $1,000 for education items to be used within the
classroom, all financed by the CEF.
Charles Epps, another CMS math teacher, was selected as the first R-2
Teacher of the Year, back during the 1992-93 school year. Since then, one
teacher has been selected per school year to received the prestigious award. Riekena joins the following
group: Charles Epps, Terri Critten, Bill Maupin, Pat Nichols, Nancy Zelmer, Kathy Breeden, Greg Thurmon, Janet
Zion, Linda Fox, Marsha Leopard, Jayme Caughron, Debbie Goodwin, Larry
Vance, Rosie Smith, Keith Dietzschold, Tami Riekena, Dave Goodwin, Tammy
Price, Ellen Gott, and Christine Jones. He is only the seventh male award winner in 21 years.
Beacon Award
Carla Meyers, Career Independence / Career Options Aide and Job Coach at
the Grand River Technical School, was selected as the 2012 Beacon Award
winner during the Friday assembly, as the top support staff worker in the
R-2 district.
CT Photo - Drew
VanDyke
This is the sixth year that the award has been handed out. Among this
year's candidates were: Meyers (GRTS), Mary Lou Wilhoit (CHS and CACE),
Janet Abbey (CMS), Amy Hand (Central and BMP), Melody Munson (Field), and
Connie Quigley (Dewey and Garrison).
Meyers has worked for the Chillicothe R-2 School District for 14 years.
Said the staff at GRTS: "Carla is a very caring person. She gets to know every student in their
classroom - their abilities, their needs, their strengths and uncertainties. She is a true
beacon: an inspiration. Carla is an important member of Grand River Technical School team. She can be found helping
students who need special assistance, teaching job readiness skills, and
she always shows compassion for all students."
"I could not ask for a more capable, encouraging and motivated
aide," commented another anonymous colleague. "The students appreciate her calm
and direct approach to assist them in becoming more independent."
Carla and her husband, Keith, have three children: Jake and Hannah are
both college students, and Nick is a sophomore at CHS.
As the 2012-13 winner, Meyers will receive $300 from the Education
Foundation. Each nominee receives $100 from the CEF.
Gary Eide was the first to receive the Beacon Award during the 2007-08
school year. Ron Rader, Lesa Lee, Rick McCully, and (most recently) Laurinda Davison make up the select group of past award winners.
SERVICE
AWARDS
The customary awarding of pins for service years to the district preceded
the TotY and Beacon award presentations on Friday. The following teachers
received a pin from the district for their years of service:
 Five Years - Tim Cunningham, Kathy DeBoer, Brandon Dennis, Shelly
Falconer, Lance Harvey, Ashley Hawkins, Amanda Marsh, Tim Marsh, Anna
McNay, Philip Pohren, Amy Taylor, Gary Jones, Kari Snyder, Brian Peters,
and Cecil Samm Jr.- Ten Years - Kristi Christy, Terria Cox, Deborah Peery, Sandra Roberts,
Jana Shira, Melissa Young, Lori Churchill, and Lisa Wilson.
- Fifteen Years - Doug French, Ellen Gott, Christine Jones, Joyce Mollohan,
Michelle Vinson, Katie Donoho, Darlene Forbess, Terry Mammen, and Beth
Willard.
- Twenty Years - Gracie Bonderer, Kenny Estes, Donna Good, Pamela Swift,
Anita Coult, Dana Melton, and Marlene Paulus.
- Twenty Five Years - Stephanie Baldwin and Brian Thompson.
- Thirty Years - Pam Gabel, Vickie Garrett, and Tami
Riekena.
Pictured: 30-year awardees (from left to right) Tami Riekena (First
Grade, Dewey School), Vickie Garrett (Physical Education, Chillicothe Middle School), and Pam Gabel (Science, Chillicothe High School).
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