Southeastern Wisconsin Educators's
Hall of Fame Induction
Friday, April 20, 2007
Carthage College
William "Rick" Broniec
Science Teacher
J.I. Case High School, Gifford Junior High School
Years of Service: 33
For most people, the words "chemistry" and "fun" are oxymoronic. They simply don't belong in the same sentence. Then again, most people haven't taken a chemistry class with Rick Broniec.
"Rick has inspired students to enjoy and to explore the chemical world," said one nominator.
"He teaches his students to understand the complexity yet simplicity of such an abstract science."
Rick is a tireless promoter of chemistry education, creating programs that take the fear out of the subject for all age groups. His "Bozo the Chemist" show has been seen by kids throughout the region.
"This program has stimulated young children to learn science by making it fun," a nominator said.
Since 1980, Rick's Wisconsin Walkabout summer backpacking course has taken students out of the classroom and into the living laboratory of Kettle Moraine state forest. The 10-day course teaches teamwork, outdoor skills, and healthy appreciation for the state's natural beauty...and its fascinating chemistry.
Rick spent 11 years teaching chemistry to minority students in the CHAMP Program at UW-Parkside. Along with educating students, Rick has worked to educate educators inspiring countless teachers to be confident science instructors through continuing education courses. As you might expect, a gifted teacher like Rick has been recognized repeatedly by peers and national organizations.
In 1987, he received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science. A year later, he was named National Honor Society Teacher of the Year and followed that with the ACS Chemistry Teacher of the Year Award. He was a 1993 recipient of the Kohl Award and a 2001 honoree as RAMAC's Teacher of the Year. He also has been honored as a Carthage College Distinguished Alumni. But Rick's greatest accomplishment, the one his students appreciate most, is his ability to make the words "chemistry" and "fun" co-exist in the same sentence.
Kathryn Heide
Music/Elementary Teacher
Kenosha County Music Teacher, Southport/Berryville/Bose schools
Years of Service: 39 (retired)
What characteristics make someone an exceptional teacher, a hall of fame-caliber teacher? People who worked with and learned from her say Kathryn Heide exemplified the characteristics of an exceptional teacher every day of her 39 years in the classroom.
The ability to build relations with students based on mutual respect was one of Kathryn's strong points.
"I have seen her develop excellent relations with her students," said Gary Gayan, who was the principal at Bose School when Kathryn taught fifth grade there. "They loved her and would do anything for her because she treated them with respect."
"As a teacher, she helped to foster a love, understanding, and appreciation of music for countless numbers of students. Many of my friends from that period have commented how they remember her fondly," Peter Barca said of Kathryn who was his second grade teacher and his music teacher at Berryville Elementary.
The ability to teach any student, not just the "smart kids" or the "good kids" but every student was another teaching trait Principal Gayan admired about Kathryn. She challenged and motivated the smart kids and she worked effectively with difficult students, the ones with behavioral problems and learning disabilities, he said.
Kathryn's classroom teaching skills were exemplary with the organizational and leadership abilities to match. The Distinguished Teacher Award she received in 1993, her 39th and final year with the Kenosha Unified School District confirmed those attributes.
She also was a role model to fellow teachers like Patricia Pooch. Patricia describes Kathryn as, "intelligent, loving, unstoppable, humorous, and engaging," adding: "She carries herself with dignity in every situation" and "manages to find that ray of hope, even in the darkest cloud."
Those who know her agree: anyone looking for the characteristics that make someone an exceptional teacher should start with Kathryn Heide.
Judy Moungey
Business Education Teacher
J.I. Case High School
Years of Service: 33 (retired)
"She is one of the major reasons why I am a teacher today."
"She truly cares about each and every student."
She "was the business education department at Case High."
The "she" these nominators refer to is Judy Moungey and it's obvious from their comments that Judy had a positive impact not just on her students but also on her fellow teachers. No where was this more apparent than in computer technology.
"For the past 15 years, Judy has worked closely with business ed. teachers from the other public high schools in the city to develop curricula and handbooks for classes in basic computer literacy, desktop publishing, information processing, keyboarding, career development, and other computer applications before such manuals were available for high schools," said one nominator.
"She was always available to conduct workshops and to assist students and other teachers in becoming computer literate," said another.
Judy often helped troubleshoot the school's computer system. She even volunteered on Saturdays at Wisconsin Tech Corp. to refurbish computers that were donated to the school system.
But Judy was not a "techie"--someone who related better to machines than to people.
"Every student was given her special brand of nurturing as well as a demand for excellence," said one nominator.
"She could motivate students who could be uncooperative and disruptive in other settings," said another.
One Case counselor added, "Her classes always filled up with waiting lists."
As you might expect, Judy earned her share of honors. She was the Wisconsin Business Teacher of the Year in 1998, Case's Teacher of the Year in 1999, the Wisconsin State PTA Secondary Teacher of the Year and the RAMAC Teacher of the Year in 2000.
Now, Judy adds another honor to the list: her 2007 induction into the Southeastern Wisconsin Educators' Hall of Fame.
John Surendonk
Elementary Science Coordinator, professional development specialist, Elementary Teacher
Racine Unified School District, Fratt School
Years of Service: 32
Of the 2007 Hall of Fame inductees, John Surendonk easily has the most varied resume. In fact, the term "multi-tasking" was created with John in mind.
Under "Present Employment," entries include Planetarium Director (1986-Present), Elementary Science Coordinator (2003-Present), Adjunct Instructor at UW-Parkside (1994-Present), and Chiwaukee Academy Co-Director (1999-Present). Under "Previous Employment," listings include elementary school teacher, Exploratorium Director, adjunct instructor at Carthage College, and Elementary Science Staff Development Specialist among others.
Even his nominators speak of him in multiples.
"Mr. Surendonk is a highly respected teacher and curriculum coordinator," said one supporter. "His current duties include supervision of the elementary science curriculum, planning and delivery of staff in-services, model teaching, and oversight of the elementary science budget and materials."
Another said: "He is an excellent teacher, leader, life-long learner, and an inspiration to everyone he meets."
However, before you start thinking John is a "Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none," consider the comments of one nominator who called him, "an excellent classroom teacher for 13 years at both the 4th and 6th grade levels."
Another praised John's "passion for helping teachers" through his professional development efforts. Chiwaukee Academy, a week of continuing education classes for teacher held every August, is one of his major successes.
"John has been a prime leader in the development of the Academy to its prominence as a major summer development setting in the state," said a nominator.
"John puts his whole heart and soul in organizing, developing, and sustaining the Academy," said another.
Whether it's teaching, program development, or educating teachers, John's greatest strength may be his ability to take on new projects.
"John will never say no," said a co-worker. "If a teacher, student, parent, or principal asks for his help, he will find the time."
Now, John must find the time to add another item to his resume: Member, Southeastern Wisconsin Educators' Hall of Fame.
Friend of Education Inductee
John Lehman
Wisconsin State Legislator, History & Economics Teacher at Park High School, Walden III
Years of Service to Education: 22, Years of Legislative Service: 19
Among Wisconsin legislators, John Lehman knows more about the inside of a classroom than most. Spending over two decades as a Racine teacher before entering politics yields such expertise.
When he was helping students understand history and economics, John was, "an inspiration in his teaching methods and his connection with all children," said a nominator. "He has served as an exemplary teacher, role model, and mentor for students."
John also served as a mentor for student teachers. These soon-to-be educators "were always assured of excellent and challenging experiences in his classroom," said one nominator, adding such "activities are critical in preparing outstanding teachers."
With the transition from school assemblies to the Wisconsin Assembly, John never lost his sense of advocacy for education. As a state representative and now in the state senate, he has remained a teacher, educating fellow lawmakers on the state's scholarly needs.
"His support of public education and his ability to convey important issues in ways other legislators can understand, made him a most valued member of the Assembly's Education Committee. It will also make him an excellent chair of the Senate Education Committee," opined a supporter.
Another praised his understanding of the "basic connection that exists between education and the solutions to societal ills." The same person cited John's authorship and support of bills on finance, truancy, safety, teaching and learning standards, and reform as praiseworthy.
Beyond teaching and legislating, John attracts the kind of admiration few political figures inspire.
"John is the single greatest person in public service today," said one nominator.
"One person likened John to a Don Quixote, fighting against the odds for 'the impossible dream' of educational justice," added another.
And while John isn't likely to ever tilt with windmills, he is likely to continue as an advocate, and friend, of education.
