Shortcuts | Mar. 22, 2012

condensed local news about civic and cultural goings-on

V1 Staff |

SUPERINTENDENT STEPPING DOWN
In an email to teachers and staff, Eau Claire Area School District Superintendent Ron Heilmann announced on March 16 his intention for an early release from his contract. His contract was to be extended through June 2013. In the email, he says, “I have found my almost four years as Superintendent of Schools of the ECASD to be professionally challenging and, at the same time, satisfying.” He cites various personal reasons for his decision. “The Eau Claire Area School District is an incredible place – filled with incredibly talented teachers and other staff – and filled with students and families who are second to none in Wisconsin or the nation.”

LOCAL TEACHER JOINS NATIONAL TEACHERS HALL OF FAME
North High School teacher, Deborah Tackmann, will soon be inducted to the National Teachers Hall of Fame, the first Wisconsinite to do so. She’ll travel to the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. for an honorary reception in May, and an induction ceremony in Kansas in June. There, she’ll participate in discussions, community events, and meet students attending the Future Teacher Academy. Tackmann’s story will be permanently displayed at the Hall of Fame gallery at Emporia State University and she will receive $1,000 of teaching supplies from Pearson Education.

STOUT STUDENT RACKS UP AWARD FOR COAT RACK DESIGN
A student from UW-Stout won a design competition hosted by Doug Mockett & Company – a company that makes furniture parts and accessories. Michael Rosen is an art student with an industrial design concentration that entered the competition after completing a school project. The assignment, given by assistant professor Noah Norton, was to design a contemporary coat and hat rack. Rosen’s Torii Rack design was one of four winners that gifted him an engraved trophy, $1,000, and royalties for the next 15 years. Torii Rack could begin production in as little as six months and he’s currently working with the company on another prototype.

UWEC TO HAVE HUNGER EVENT
On March 28 from 6-8pm a banquet to highlight hunger and poverty will come to UW-Eau Claire as part of the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet. Presented by the Student Senate, the banquet will focus on domestic hunger, with the goal of localizing the experience with students and the community. Speakers include geography professor Jeff DeGrave, Rachel Keniston of Community Table, and Christian Wise of Blugold Dining by Sodexo. They will enlighten attendees on food security and the importance of education. Food and clothing donations for Sojourner House will be appreciated. For more info, contact Linda Lee Yeoi Lin at 461-0439.