Colfax school district recognizes milestones at staff banquet

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX — Each year at the end of May, the Colfax school district recognizes staff members for their years of service.

This year, the staff banquet was held May 24 at the Whitetail Golf Course.

One year

Employees who have completed one year of employment with the Colfax school district receive a school district pin.

Board of Eduction member Andrew De Moe handed out 13 pins:

• Diane Buck (librarian).

• Adam Davison (teaches high school history and coaches football and wrestling).

• John Dickinsen (teaches sixth grade and has been working on the curriculum review update).

• Michael Hodel (teaches physical education, coaches baseball, and is a wellness leader in the district).

• Stacy Reit (school psychologist and is the district’s data expert on Response to Intervention data and progress).

• Melissa Seehaver (first grade teacher).

• Kristina Winings (second grade teacher).

• Andrew De Moe (school board member).

• Alycia Dickinsen (special education paraprofessional).

• Kristi Marko (food service).

• Kristi Nelson (junior kindergarten paraprofessional).

• Randy Risler (bus driver).

• Pam Sikora (special education paraprofessional).

Five years

Employees who have completed five years of service with the Colfax school district receive a paperweight.

Jodi Kiekhafer, school board member, presented five paperweights:

• Matthew De Moe (physical education teacher; high school football coach; power lifting coach).

• Nancy Hovde (third grade teacher).

• Brianne Link (high school special education teacher) (the school board has accepted Link’s resignation; she will be moving to the Barron school district this fall).

• Ashley Goulet (superintendent’s assistant and school district bookkeeper).

• Jim Satter (bus driver).

Ten years

Employees who have completed ten years of service with the Colfax school district receive a desk set.

Ken Bjork, school board member, presented five desk sets.

• Dianna Dachel (fourth grade teacher).

• Pamela Meredith (high school physical education teacher; volleyball coach).

• Jim Keltner (bus driver).

• Kimberly Leibfried (bus driver and paraprofessional).

• Roger Sonnenberg (bus driver).

15 years

Employees who have completed 15 years of of service with the Colfax school district receive book ends.

The following people were presented with book ends:

• Janice Cox (elementary special education teacher).

• Eric Kyles (high school special needs teacher and athletic director).

• Stephanie Ulcej (elementary art teacher).

• Cindy Knutson (food service).

• Charles Owen (bus driver).

20 years

Employees who have completed 20 years of service with the Colfax school district receive a plaque.

Ken Neuburg, school board vice president, presented five plaques.

• Amy Bowe (high school guidance counselor).

• Jeannett Kiekhafer (third grade teacher) (has also taught in fourth and fifth grade).

• Lisa Neuburg (family consumer education teacher and medical terminology).

• Ronald Swartz (maintenance and custodial supervisor. He will be officially retiring in September).

• Gary Stene (special education paraprofessional).

25 years

Employees who have completed 25 years of service with the Colfax school district receive a Viking statue.

Christie Hill, school board clerk, presented two statues.

• Kathleen Jensen (kindergarten teacher).

• Carl Rudi (middle school math teacher).

The Colfax school district did not have any employees this year who had completed 30 years of service or 35 years of service.