Sioux City North High School

An emerging leader on Team ISEA is North High's Leslie Dake (pictured at left). Leslie is a secretary in the school's counseling office. Leslie had the opportunity to have a first-hand, close-up experience of Team NEA when she attended her first NEA Midwest Regional back in January 2006 in Indianapolis, IN. I think we have Leslie "hooked"! She said her husband describes her as, "Norma Rae". You go, girl!

Leslie got up extra early to prepare a homemade coffee cake for Marlin Jeffers and me. Here's her delicious recipe:

Leslie's Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Cream together the following:

2 cups white sugar

1 cup margarine

2 eggs

Then add:

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together the following then add to above mixture:

2 cups flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

Topping Mix:

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 tsp. cinnamon

6 Tbls. brown sugar

Pour 1/2 of the batter in a 9 x 13" pan (greased and floured), sprinkle 1/2 of topping on top, pour remainder of batter on next, then the rest of the topping on top.

Bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

When cooled, drizzle a mixture of powdered sugar mixed with milk (and a little vanilla). Leslie says that "more sugar is always good"!

Pictured at right is one of the many stairwells in North High School. Avery Brothers signs of Sioux City donated labor and supplies to paint stairwells throughout North High School. I'd say, Avery Brothers, you're a mighty fine school partner to have! Thanks for investing in the students of your community!

A second great para-educator that we met at North High School was Linda Tritz. Linda (pictured at left) is a teacher associate in the Behavior Disorder classroom, "BD Land" as they say at North High. Linda is a leader on Team ISEA, serving North High SCESPA as a building rep and serving on the Negotiations Team. She shared with us that she's been a member of the district for 25 years, 19 of those years as an assistant in a Behavior Disorder classroom and with 18 of those years at North High. She has worked with 4 different teachers. Wow! I'd say, I met one very valuable member of Team ISEA! Thanks for your leadership Linda in the classroom and in the association!