Maquoketa Valley English teacher honored at awards banquet

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Left to Right: Chris Bern, Debbie DeVore, Evelyn George

DES MOINES, IA (11/22/2011)(readMedia)-- Debbie DeVore, a high-school English teacher and speech and drama coach from Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi 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.

Debbie gently nudges her students out of their comfort zones and rewards them with newfound skills. She takes student's biggest fears – public speaking - and by the end of the school year, has them enjoying speaking in front of crowds. In fact, Debbie has made her speech classes so popular that many students can't wait to sign up for her extracurricular speech program.

"Debbie embodies the type of teacher we are proud to honor," said Chris Bern, president of the ISEA. "She creates a learning environment that both interests and challenges her students to want to participate and improve. Her passion about teaching her students is infectious and her students clamor to get into her classes. That is a wonderful experience all the way around," added Bern.

Now in its twelfth year, the 2011 Excellence in Education Award honors the countless educators across the state like Debbie DeVore who go the extra mile to make a difference. DeVore 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, Scott Bertelsen, a high-school speech teacher and drama coach from Forest City High School in Forest City, and Pamela Nichols, a fifth-grade teacher at Lakewood Elementary School in Norwalk.

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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!