Four Teachers of the Year named

Four educators who teach in Wisconsin’s PK-12 public schools will represent the state’s teaching corps by serving as Teachers of the Year for the 2006-07 school year.

“These Teachers of the Year exemplify the many fine educators who work with our students every school day,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “They make it their educational mission to give their best, to help our children learn by doing, and to inspire the reluctant learner through creative teaching, innovative strategies, and student mentoring. They embrace our New Wisconsin Promise to provide a quality education for every child.”

The four educators, also recipients of the Herb Kohl Education Foundation Teacher Fellowships in the spring of 2006, are Carl Hader of Grafton, Terry Kaldhusdal of Oconomowoc, Rebecca Marine of Menomonie, and Anne Tredinnick of De Forest.

A panel of educators, parents, and community leaders selected the four from a pool of 86 Kohl Teacher Fellows. Teachers of the Year are chosen for their ability to inspire students’ love of learning, instructional innovation and leadership, and commitment to community involvement. Later this month, the committee will choose one Teacher of the Year to represent Wisconsin in the National Teacher of the Year program.

Since 1999, Terry Kaldhusdal, Elementary School Teacher of the Year, has been a fourth-grade teacher at Megee Elementary School in Genesee Depot, which is part of the Kettle Moraine School District. He has been an educator since 1991. Kaldhusdal earned a journalism degree from California State Polytechnic University of San Luis Obispo, and a teaching certificate from Chapman College in California. He earned a master’s degree in technology in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass.

Middle School Teacher of the Year Anne Tredinnick has been a fifth-grade mathematics, science, and reading teacher at De Forest Middle School since 2001. She previously taught in Windsor, Barneveld, and St. Louis, Mo. She earned her elementary education degree, with a specialization in math and science, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds a master of education in professional development from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Carl Hader, High School Teacher of the Year, teaches technology and engineering courses at Grafton High School, where he has worked since 1979. He earned his bachelor of science in industrial education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in curriculum and instruction from National Louis University’s Milwaukee campus.

The Special Services Teacher of the Year, Rebecca Marine, a special education teacher at Elk Mound High School, has been in the Elk Mound School District since 1991. She has previous experience as a lecturer in the special education department at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and as a day care teacher and preschool director in Menomonie. She holds degrees in vocational rehabilitation, special education, and vocational education from UW-Stout.

Last updated on 9/18/2006