Third Annual Iowa Mentoring & Induction Institute

The third annual Iowa Mentoring and Induction Institute was held April 10-12, 2006 at Maucker Union on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa. To kickoff the institute, a banquet was held on Monday evening to award honors to two teacher leaders.

The "2006 Mentor of the Year" honor went to West Des Moines Community School District teacher at Hillside Elementary, Charlene Ondracek.

Char has 38 years of teaching reading in the West Des Moines Community School District. She has served as a mentor in the West Des Moines Community School District during the 1997-1998 school years when the program was locally funded. She has served officially as a state-funded mentor during the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years. Char also has served as a cooperating teacher many times. Pictured at left with me are ISEA East Central UniServ Director, Dave Ulrick (center) and Char Ondracke (right). Congratulations, Char!


The "2006 Mentor Program Leader of the Year" honor was bestowed upon Tammy Wawro of the Cedar Rapids Education Association. The CREA chose Tammy for the position of Mentoring and Induction Coordinator because of her excellent communication skills, her experience and skill as a classroom teacher, the respect she earned from her peers and colleagues, outstanding people skills and her academic achievement including National Board Certification. Tammy's leadership has earned her the respect and confidence of teachers and administration alike. Pictured with me at the right are: Tammy Wawro (left); Dave Ulrick (2nd from right); and Ann Feldman, Human Resource Director for the Cedar Rapids Community Schools. We are so proud of you, Tammy!


Pictured with Tammy Wawro (at left), the 2006 Mentor Program Leader of the Year, is Mildred Middleton for which the awards are named in her honor. Mildred began making first-string players even before receiving her teaching degree in 1943. While a first-year student at Iowa State Teachers College, she was recognized for her gifts of teaching and leading when the President of ISTC helped her promising future as an educator, tapping her as a junior supervisor at the Laboratory School.

She distinguised herself as a teacher; a curriculum coordinator; an author; a speaker; and as a pioneer in program development. With all of her professional accomplishments, Middleton is recognized most, by colleagues and those she mentors as a friend. Thanks Mildred Middleton for setting the bar high for all of us in the profession!

A special thanks to Team ISEA professional staff members Dave Wilkinson and Dave Ulrick for their leadership in the arena of mentoring and induction. Thanks, Dave and Dave!