School: Neillsville - 2 Teachers of Distinction Chosen (2022)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Gerhardt, Ruskin, Seebandt, Kosmosky, Kunze
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/02/2022
Neillsville School District-Two Teachers of Distinction Chosen (2022)
Two Teachers of Distinction Chosen at Neillsville School District
By Valorie Brecht
This year’s two Teachers of Distinction at the Neillsville School District show
a passion for education seen by supervisors, co-workers and students.
Amy Gebhardt and Amy Kosmosky are this year’s chosen teachers.
Neillsville Agriculture teacher Amy Gerhardt was recently named a Teacher of
Distinction by the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry as part of
its Crystal Apple Awards program. Submitted photo
“I was extremely surprised and honored [to be chosen],” wrote Gerhardt in an
email. “We have a fabulous staff and awesome team. There are many deserving
teachers at Neillsville School.”
Gerhardt and Kosmosky were selected through the Marshfield Area Chamber of
Commerce and Industry’s (MACCI) Crystal Apple Awards program. Then area school
districts participate. Nominations are accepted from students, fellow teachers
and parents. MACCI notifies the schools about which teachers have been nominated
and then staff members in each school vote on who should be chosen as the
Teacher of Distinction. Then MACCI tabulates the votes and presents the 25
winners with a gift and congratulations.
Neillsville High School Principal Craig Anderson Ruskin said he felt Gerhardt
was deserving of the award because of her passion for education and learning.
“Amy is a very familiar face within our community. She has a true passion for
everything and anything related to agriculture as well as leadership. She is an
outstanding agriculture teacher, advisor for the FFA (our largest school student
organization), involved in 4-H and even a local entrepreneur. Amy never stops
doing and giving back to this community and as a result she is incredibly
deserving of this honor as well as our thanks for all that she does,” he wrote.
“Amy has a lot of strengths, but I think one thing she really excels at is her
ability to relate with students,” he added. “Students need to see enthusiasm and
passion for what you do and Amy certainly does that. We may not have every
student that goes through her classroom wanting to become involved in an
agriculture-related field, but they will leave her program knowing that their
teacher is skilled, knowledgeable and passionate about making a difference.”
Gerhardt’s interest in education goes back to her high school days.
“I decided to become a teacher my junior year of high school,” Gerhardt wrote.
“I was in my agriculture class and my agriculture teacher, Mr. Herman Seebandt,
was trying to teach. I was interrupting him with my constant talking. He finally
stopped teaching and said to me, ‘You seem to like talking; you should become an
ag teacher.’ I laughed, but that comment stuck with me. I decided to put my
talking talent to good use and teach about my favorite subject – agriculture.”
She said her favorite part of teaching was working with students that want to
learn new information and watching students share their newfound knowledge with
others.
Second grade teacher Amy Kosmosky is shown here with Neillsville Elementary
Principal Marcy Kunze after Kosmosky was named a Teacher of Distinction.
Submitted photo
Kosmosky, the other Teacher of Distinction has taught second grade for 11 years
at Neillsville Elementary School. She said she was “shocked” to find out she had
been chosen as a Teacher of Distinction.
“I was up against some veteran teachers whom I most admire,” she wrote in an
email.
“I am honored to receive this recognition. I dedicate a lot of time and passion
to my classroom, students and school. It is nice to be recognized for that,” she
added.
Elementary principal Marcy Kunze said that Kosmosky taught her students about
the importance of learning and community service.
“Amy also is a teacher leader for her grade level. She takes initiative when
developing lessons, analyzing data to determine appropriate instruction and
mentoring her team. She cares for the students and the school community. Amy is
truly an asset,” Kunze said.
In addition to her time in the classroom, Kosmosky serves as the chairperson for
the elementary school’s (PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) committee,
which develops the school’s monthly character traits, behavior leaning targets
and protocols, and reward activities.
“Amy likes to be involved in the happenings of the school. She is accepting of
change and is willing to learn new things. In addition, Amy has an empathetic
nature and goes above and beyond when teaching students,” Kunze said.
Kosmosky said it was not her intention to become a teacher after leaving high
school, but came to realize during her freshman year how much she missed being
around kids, as she had tutored first grade students all four years of high
school.
“I decided to switch majors, and I am so glad I did,” Kosmosky wrote.
She finds enjoyment several aspects of teaching.
“I love making connections with my students – getting to know who they are and
how they learn best, seeing their ‘light bulbs’ turn on and having fun while
workin hard,” she said.
Kosmosky, Gerhardt and the rest of the Teachers of Distinction will be honored
at a banquet at Hotel Marshfield May 4. They will also be considered for the top
four Crystal Apple Awards.
The MACCI will announce the Crystal Apple Award Winners Merch 2.
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