Colfax school district recognizes 29 teachers and staff members

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX  —  The Colfax school district recognized 29 teachers and staff members at the annual staff recognition banquet June 1 at the Whitetail Golf Course.

Among the 29 are four teachers who will be retiring this year: Billie Jo Fiege (first grade); Deborah Mathson (second grade); Joe Doucette (physical education; coach); Wes Grambo (high school history and athletic director).

The retirees each received a ring.

The Colfax Messenger will be publishing profiles of the retirees in the next few weeks. Look for Doucette’s profile elsewhere in this edition of the Messenger.

Other staff members also were recognized at the banquet for their years of service.

Those honored for one year of service received a school district pin: Courtney Doucette (first grade teacher); Kirk Secraw (third grade teacher and baseball coach); Kara Buchner (para-professional/teacher assistant); Krista De Moe (kitchen assistant and custodial substitute); Jordan Herrick (para-professional and teacher assistant); Kyle Knutson (Board of Education); Lynn Lauffer (kitchen assistant).

Those honored for five years of service received a paper weight: Andrea Brunn (special education); Christie Hill (Board of Education); Trevor Hovde (Colfax Elementary principal); Jodi Kiekhafer (Board of Education); Richard Meredith (high school art, yearbook advisor and girls’ softball coach); Kari Sedivy (kindergarten teacher); Linda Boehm (para-professional working with special needs); Shirley Meier (para-professional working with special needs); Chad Sikora (custodian; groundskeeper and athletic field preparation).

Those honored for ten years of service received a desk set: John Dachel (Colfax High School principal); Laci Cook (first grade teacher); JoAnn Mayfield (Title I); Vicki Michaels (elementary special education teacher); Garrett Maas (computer network administrator for the school district); Linda Cook (elementary custodian).

One staff member was recognized for 15 years of service and received book ends: Carrie Christensen (vocal music teacher).

One staff member was recognized for 20 years of service and received a plaque: Patrick Furey (high school chemistry and physics teacher).

Vicki Moore was honored for 25 years of service and received a statue. Moore has been a para-professional and teacher’s aide for the 25 years she has worked in Colfax.

Two staff members were honored for 30 years of service and received a watch: James Woodford (instrumental music); Marilyn Dehnert (para-professional working with junior kindergarten students and also working in the elementary library).

The Colfax school district did not have any 35-year staff members this year.