By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Lincoln Elementary School Principal Elaine Rohleder was named January’s USD 489’s Best of the Best at a school board meeting Monday night.
Rohleder was nominated by Monica Dreiling, fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln.
“Elaine Rohleder is an exemplary administrator,” she said. “When teachers want to implement new projects and ideas within their classrooms, she is supportive and provides resources when necessary. Elaine’s demeanor encourages staff and students to do their best each day. Guidance is provided in a caring and supportive manner.”
Rohleder takes time to get to know each student and their families, Dreiling said.
“She understands the importance of making these connections with students, parents and staff, resulting in excellent rapport. She is genuinely interested in building relationships,” Dreiling said.
Mariella Dreiling, Lincoln student, continued with the nomination letter, saying Rohleder had an open-door policy and is available to hear concerns and successes whenever she has a free moment.
“She gives authentic praise, demonstrates extreme patience and has high expectations,” she said. “Mrs. Rohleder understands the unique challenges of working in education and provides support in meeting these challenges.”
About a half dozen of Rohleder’s colleagues attended the meeting Monday in support of her nomination.
Marla Stecklein, Lincoln second-grade teacher, also offered kind words about Rohleder.
“I appreciate all the support that I receive each and every day in doing my job at Lincoln with the students, and she is very deserving of this award,” she said.
Rohleder thanked her staff.
“I am so blessed to be a part of USD 489, especially Lincoln Elementary School. The staff there is so dedicated to not only their students but to their families. Being a part of USD 489 has been a blessing for 24 years. I think the community needs to realize how fortunate the community is to have their children come to a school in USD 489, because everybody from the classified staff to the certified staff to the administration, their heart and soul is there every single day. They are giving their very best to make sure the students are great citizens and continue to serve on boards like you guys do.”
The student award winner of Best of the Best for January was Carter Werth, a Wilson Elementary School fifth grader.
He was nominated by Wilson Principal Anita Scheve.
Werth is a role model at Wilson. The job of these students is to help students get to class.
At the beginning of the school year, a kindergarten boy was having difficulty leaving his mother. Werth bent down to talk to the student, comforted him and offered to walk him to his classroom. He did this for about a month, until the student felt more comfortable.
“Carter made that transition very smooth for that kindergarten student,” Scheve said, “and he did that all on his own. I really felt that Carter took a little extra time and showed what it meant to be a role model — a true role model — and a good citizen of Wilson, caring, concerned and connected to others.”