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Educator of the Year: Teaching not for faint of heart, but will fill heart
McCOOK, Nebraska -- A teacher for 31 years, Bev Klein was presented with the 2013 McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year award at the McCook High School commencement ceremony Sunday.
The award was established by a monetary gift in 1998 from former McCook Daily Gazette editor and publisher, Allen Strunk.
Chamber Education committee member Linda Wood presented Klein the award to a standing ovation. A kindergarden teacher at McCook Elementary, Klein was visibly shocked and astonished in accepting the award and thanked parents for "generously sharing their children with me."
In presenting the award, Wood said that Klein believes that "teaching is not for the faint of heart, but will leave your heart full of precious memories and pride in all you have accomplished." Klein also felt that the most important thing any educator can do is to establish a true relationship with each student and their family and to equip all her students with excellent reading and math skills.
Klein still has a love of learning and is pursuing her master's degree and has more than 48 hours of education credits in educational administration and gifted education.
Her love of children began with the Buzzy Bee Christian Daycare, before teaching kindergarden at McCook Elementary in 1990. A member of the McCook Evangelical Free Church, she has served as an Awana leader and as a host for weekly Bible studies. She has also been a 4-H leader and a member of the Red Willow County Council.
Other nominees for this year's award include ChrisWatt, Southwest Public School; Dennis Berry, McCook Junior High; Joe Dreher, Decatur Community Junior/Senior High School; Karmin Church, Wellington School; Pam Wolford, McCook High School; Katie Mucha St. Patrick's; Amanda Peterson, St. Patricks; Tama Kain, St. Patrick's; Carol Hess Chase County Schools; Randy Hayes, Chase County Schools; Margarete Janes, McCook High School; Michele Sehnert McCook Sr. High.
The Educator of Year award is chosen from teachers nominated by parents, past or present students, citizens and educators from seven counties in Nebraska and two counties in Kansas. The award goes to an educator selected by the chamber's Education Committee that best demonstrates commitment to teaching, compassion to students and involvement in the community.