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| Excellent Educator: Jan. |
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Betty Klemensich
Elementary Teacher
Babbitt, MN
44 years, Retired
WHY SHE WAS NOMINATED:
Mrs. Klemensich was nominated because she has touched the lives of hundreds of students over the course of her 44-year career. She spent much of that time teaching 3rd graders, although also participated in "team teaching" in 4th, 5th and 6th grades Language Arts/music/art. She was the chief organizer of many events for the Babbitt elementary staff, including the annual Poetry 'n Punch. Every student, grade 1-6 has the opportunity to recite their poem by heart, in front of their peers. Mrs. Klemensich also organized the Arther Read-athon, the Pizza Hut Book It and the Young Author's Tea. Mrs. Klemensich gave her classes a large dose of reading... reading... reading.
WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE HER:
Dedicated. Effective. Giving. Caring. |
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MORE ABOUT BETTY KLEMENSICH: |
| What is your most memorable moment as an Educator? |
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"I have been honored by the Arrowhead Reading Council & IRA (International Reading) with the 'Celebrate Literacy' Award, the 'Dagny Bohlin Literacy' Award, six different years in the "Who's Who Among America's Teachers," and the first teacher to be awarded the Horace Mann Crystal Apple Award in 2006 at our school by my principal. As much as I really appreciate these awards, I will always remember a little 3rd grade girl, the last day of her 3rd grade year with me, crying at her seat because she was leaving 3rd grade. And the first-year teacher being interviewed by an Ely newspaper asking who influenced her in wanting to be a teacher and she replied "Her 3rd grade teacher in Babbitt." |
| If you could pass along one piece of wisdom, what would it be? |
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"If parents would spend time reading books to their little ones and encourage love of books before first grade, it would help immensely with their children's education and well being." |
| If you weren't an educator what would you be? |
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"I think I'd like to be working for a large department store doing their window displays from season to season. Or being a buyer for some jewelry department would be fun too." |
| What do you do during summer vacation? |
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"Busy. I've written my masters paper for UMD, gone to many workshops and taken many teacher classes, gone to Europe with a large band and choir group and played concerts for 3 weeks. I also play in the Aurora City band with my Alto Sax. Next summer I think I'll have a huge 'teacher stuff' rummage sale." |
| Personal Information: |
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Mrs. Klemensichs' parents stressed college after high school to her and her two sisters. She has 4 beautiful nieces. She is married to Bernie... who has supported her teaching and classroom activities. She has a special Aunt in Las Vegas who just turned 91. Mrs. Klemensich has always loved books and has a collection of ABC books and children's poetry books. She collects Sax music and plays with the Mesabi Concert Band and Aurora City Band. |
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