Grant Wood AEA honors area educators, citizens and staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Grant Wood AEA honors area educators, citizens and staff)

Cedar Rapids...Grant Wood Area Education Agency honored area educational partners and agency staff during its annual Staff Recognition and Partnerships Banquet, held Tuesday, May 1, 2007, at the Longbranch Hotel Restaurant & Convention Center in Cedar Rapids.

Educational Partner Awards were presented to the following:

• Jean Knowles, counselor, Stewart Elementary, Washington School District

• The Starry Elementary 2^nd Grade Level Teacher Team, Marion Independent School District

• Norma Waters, paraeducator, Grant Wood Elementary, Cedar Rapids School District

The Friend of Education Award was presented to the Parent-Educator Partnership “Parents as Presenters” team.

Caring Colleague Awards were presented to GWAEA employees Ken Benson, school social worker; John Nietupski, resource development specialist; and Jan Scharnberg, physical therapist.

In addition, 74 Grant Wood AEA staff and board members received recognition for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service. Also honored were 17 agency retirees representing a total of more than 423 years of service to Grant Wood AEA.

This is the 19^th year for the awards ceremony, which was established as a way for agency staff to show appreciation for local schools and citizens who provide exemplary educational leadership for children, and who demonstrate a partnering attitude in all they do. Honorees were nominated and chosen by agency staff.

Funds for the banquet are provided through proceeds from agency vending machines and this year through sponsorships from the Coffee Talk Café, Hills Bank & Trust, Pearson School Systems, and Pioneer Workspace Solutions.

Grant Wood AEA provides educational services for 33 public school districts and 20 approved nonpublic schools in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties.

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