End of Year Celebration
On the last day of school, the ACSD held their annual End of Year Ceremony to celebrate staff and the work they have done for the past school year. Also, time is taken to honor staff in a variety of ways, including retirements, Golden Apple Awards and the Class of ‘79 Teacher of the Year Award.
At the close of the 2022-2023 school year, Algona will have three retirements. Those retiring are Kim Knudsen, Don Gatton and Brenda Heesch.
Kim Knudsen
Kim started at Bertha Godfrey in 1999 and has worked in the Algona district for over 23 years! Kim will miss the friends that she has made through the years at Bryant as well as the stories and insight from the kids. She loves when the kids can’t wait to tell her something, whether it’s somewhere they’ve been, a new haircut, something that's going on with their family and has learned that it takes more patience than she thought she would ever have! Kim was unable to attend the event.
Don Gatton
Don has worked in the Algona Community School District for the past 5 years and will miss the kids that he picks up every day and the kids that he transports for activities. Don explains that he has enjoyed everything about working in the Algona CSD and has learned from his experience that Algona schools are great and provide a wonderful education for the students.
In retirement, Don plans on checking items off his bucket list and hopes to travel and see different places, and is looking forward to having the opportunity to watch his grandchildren in sports and other activities. Next year, on the first day of school, Don plans on sleeping in and spending time with his wife.The one thing that Don will not miss is the cold winter months and the worry of keeping the students on his bus safe. Don is not worried about staying busy in retirement and he wants to thank Merrill and the whole school team for his time in the district.
Brenda Heesch
Brenda has been the building secretary at Bryant Elementary since 2013 and worked in the Titonka school district for 15 years prior. Brenda describes that she will miss the staff, students, and of course Mr. Sudol! She explained that she will also miss the famed Bob & Tom show!
When asked what she will miss about working in the school, Brenda replied that she loved what she did and loved who she had the opportunity to work with. As for retirement, Brenda does not have any big plans, but is excited about spending more time with her grandchildren and hopes to travel some. In retirement, Brenda is excited about two new grandbabies that are coming yet this year. She will now be able to help each of her daughters and not have to worry about getting back to school!
On the first day of school next year, Brenda has already been invited to both coffee and lunch, but she is excited that she will not have to get up at 5:00 AM! One thing that Brenda will not miss next year is the drive to Algona in the winter and calling for subs!
Finally, Brenda described that Mr. Sudol has been a wonderful principal and boss. He is always patient, and some days she was pretty needy, but some days he was too! Mr. Sudol is so good with the kids that she has learned a lot by just listening and watching him. He made her job fun and he didn’t mind if she picked on him a little!
Golden Apple Award Recipients
Each year, the Algona Community School District awards Golden Apples to staff members with 25 years of service in the District. This year we have 15 Golden Apple Awards recipients, please come to the front to receive your award when your name is called. This years Golden Apple award recipients are: Colleen Bowman, Lisa Cassens, Lisa Chapman, Terry Curry, Sara Curtis, Pat Fogarty, Bob Gridley, Donna Hellman, Theresa Kuecker, Merrill Mueller, Nicole Shillington, Barb Stence, Holly Waltz, Pete Waltz, and Tricia Wartick.
Class of 1979 Teacher of the Year Award
The Class of 1979 Teacher award was presented by AHS alumni and staff member Janet Vottler and current Algona Community School Foundation consultant, Barb Teeter. This year's recipient was Todd Herbst-Ulmer. Mr. HU has been the elementary music teacher at Bertha Godfrey and Bryant for the past 10 years, but next year will be moving into the high school to direct the choral activities.
