Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 3:11 pm
Kromrey band teacher Darlayne Coughlin and Glacier Creek eighth-grade teacher Jen Lohr have been named 2021 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellowship recipients.
Coughlin and Lohr were two of just 18 teachers selected in the CESA 2 region and 101 overall in Wisconsin.
Seven other MCPASD staff members -- Glacier Creek special education teacher Tim Ashe (2015), MHS and Kromrey German teacher Jolene Wochenske (2015), Kromrey principal Steve Soeteber (2016), MHS orchestra teacher Steve Kurr (2017), Glacier Creek band teacher Jeanne Hammes (2017), Glacier Creek sixth-grade teacher Rhonda Veroeven (2018), MHS band teacher Doug Brown (2020) and Glacier Creek sixth-grader teacher Lyndsey Ebben (2020) -- have received Kohl Educational Foundation awards since 2015. In addition, Elm Lawn and Sunset Ridge art teacher Monica Kmak was honored in 2018 when she worked in Dodgeville.
Fellowship recipients are educators who have been chosen for their superior ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, their ability to motivate others, and their leadership and service within and outside the classroom.
Coughlin and Lohr will each receive $6,000, while Kromrey and Glacier Creek will also each receive $6,000.
Kromrey band teacher Kimberly Reynolds and MHS bilingual resource teacher Daria Borokhim were also Kohl nominees this year.
Lohr is in her fourth year at Glacier Creek and 11th year overall in teaching. She serves on the school's PBIS Tier 2 team and has trained in EduClimber. She earned her bachelor's degree from UW-Eau Claire and has a master's degree in educational leadership from Viterbo. She noted on her Kohl application that she is always looking for ways to help students improve and focuses her time and energy on areas that have the greatest positive impact on children.
"I am so thankful to the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation and the teacher fellowship program's co-sponsors,'' Lohr said. "I feel so fortunate to get to work with the amazing students, families, staff, board members, and community members in the Middleton-Cross Plain Area School District. The support I receive from others in the MCPASD community does not go unnoticed. I am so thankful for this community and being able to work with such incredible students.''
Coughlin has taught band in the District for 15 years. She has been instrumental in Kromrey's band vision to "move beyond the notes to cultivate a life-long passion and drive for creativity, curiosity, and community through a vision of students as accomplished learners and evolving musicians in pursuit of artistry.” She works to make sure students are actively engaged in their learning by providing authentic opportunities. She also has been instrumental in getting instruments in the hands of any student who wants to participate in band and ensuring that the literature studied is diverse enough to appeal to all students.
The Kohl Foundation Scholarship and Fellowship program was established in 1990. The program has handed out nearly $25 million to Wisconsin educators, students and schools.
"Education is the key to the future of Wisconsin and our nation,'' the former U.S. Senator said in a statement. "I am very proud of the accomplishments of these students, teachers, and principals and look forward to the great contributions they will make in the future.''