Forest City Teacher Honored at Awards Banquet

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Left to Right: Chris Bern, Scott Bertelsen, Evelyn George

DES MOINES, IA (11/22/2011)(readMedia)-- Scott Bertelsen, an English, speech, and drama teacher from Forest City High School, was honored as a runner-up for the 2011 Excellence in Education award on November 15 in Des Moines. The award is sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), the Iowa Farm Bureau, WHO Radio, KDSM Fox 17, STAPLES, and Smilemakers.

"This award recognizes the truly exceptional work done by educators to help their students succeed," said Chris Bern, president of the ISEA. "When you read through all the nominations you can see how Iowa educators consistently exceed expectations in order to change the lives of their students."

"We are especially happy to be a part of honoring the excellence, hard work, and dedication of teachers who stand as role models for students and their communities." said Evelyn George, marketing coordinator for the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Scott Bertelsen, affectionately known as "Mr. B" to students and colleagues, imparts an infectious enthusiasm on his students for learning and performing. In nominating him for this award, colleagues said one of Scott's gifts is that he envisions what a person is capable of, cleverly but openly expresses this to the person, and helps find ways for each person to achieve this new sense about themselves.

"Scott has had a tremendous impact in changing the lives of his students through assisting them with vision, purpose, and with a playground to explore and develop skills that both challenge and encourage them to be better and to share with others," said Bern. He truly is the kind of teacher who students feel fortunate to have experienced in their classroom."

Now in its twelfth year, the 2011 Excellence in Education Award honors the countless educators across the state like Scott Bertelsen who go the extra mile to make a difference. Bertelsen received a gift certificate from STAPLES and Smilemakers during an award ceremony and banquet on Tuesday, November 15 at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines, courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau.

The winner of the 2011 Excellence in Education Award is Liz Altemeier, a first-grade teacher from Grant Wood Elementary School in Cedar Rapids. Other runners-up include Janet Coon, a middle-school science teacher from East Middle School in Sioux City, Debbie DeVore, a high-school English teacher, speech and theater coach from Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi, and Pamela Nichols, a fifth-grade teacher at Lakewood Elementary School in Norwalk.

The ISEA is a professional organization made up of more than 34,000 educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic!