Spencer teacher named Distance Learning Educator of the Year

One Spencer educator has been honored for her work building connections with students not just in her own classroom, but also across the state as she teaches over a distance learning network.

Lisa Vann, Spanish teacher at the Spencer School District, received the Distance Learning Educator of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Association of Distance Education Networks (WADEN). This honor is awarded to educators providing virtual classes within WADEN that have shown a talent for teaching, a passion to support students beyond their own school district and creativity to make distance learning successful for a diverse student population. Most distance learning courses are taught via live video conferencing while some can be a hybrid of recorded lectures, online coursework and virtual teacher office hours.

This year, 12 educators were nominated out of

Please see Distance learning, page 7

Spencer Spanish teacher Lisa Vann is shown in her classroom after being surprised with a plaque, bouquet and gift card in honor of being named Distance Learning Educator of the Year.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

from p. 1 64 K-12 teachers and over 60 higher education instructors and professors. Out of the 12, two award winners were chosen based on number of individual nominations, courses, years teaching through distance learning and personal endorsements by those who nominated them. Vann was selected to receive the award in the K-12 Educator category and Quentin Vieregge, associate English professor at UW-Eau Claire - Barron County, was chosen for the Higher Education category.

“Vann… was chosen for her dedication and drive,” wrote Amanda Kostner, WADEN chair, in a May 9 press release.

This year Vann taught four sections of high school Spanish 1-4 to six school districts through the Central Wisconsin Educational Telecommunications Network (CWETN), via CESA 10, including Weyauwega- Fremont, Whitehall, Blair-Taylor and Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan.

“Her Spanish courses have proven to be fun and dynamic,” wrote Kostner.

Vann’s award nomination included testimonials from students as to how Vann helped them. One of her students wrote, “Ms. Vann always comes to class and makes sure we have the best class experience even though we are on the computer. She has sent us multiple care packages with Spanish treats to try, along with materials to help better our learning and understanding of Hispanic culture.”

Vann has found a passion for teaching through distance learning. When recently writing a letter of support for distance learning services, she wrote, “I have been teaching foreign language courses since 2007 and this year has been the most challenging and most rewarding thus far as I am able to serve students from diverse backgrounds and remote locations that are longing for the chance to become multilingual change agents in their communities and others.”

When asked to describe what it meant to her to receive this award, Vann was quick to put the focus back on her students.

“I am in awe at the caliber of students I have had the extreme pleasure of getting to know,” Vann wrote in an email. “One distance learning student from another school walked in and surprised me, saying, ‘Sorry I am late for class!’ I was so happy to see her I started to cry! My heart truly cares for all my students. Without them none of this is possible! She gave me flowers and a card that made me cry! Then all of a sudden a wave of people came into my room in the middle of class! They presented this award to me and honestly it is for all of my students and staff, my own family here and in Spain, and the Spencer school family as we all work together to make this world a brighter place.

“I especially want to share this award with my mom, Ana, who gave me my roots in Spanish with our family heritage in Spain. She fought so hard for us to have a great education as young students ourselves. It is a privilege and honor to share that light with generations of students over the years. ‘¡Gracias, Mamá!’ I have now cried multiple times just thinking about how moved and touched I am by this news! I am sure more tears of joy will follow. I truly believe so many teachers are worthy of this award, so I share it with all my colleagues all around the world that give their hearts to kids daily.”

The WADEN Distance Learning Educators of the Year are awarded with a $250 Amazon gift card, to be used for themselves or the improvement of their classroom, and a plaque celebrating their accomplishments. This year’s awards are sponsored by Meemic Insurance, and North Point Advisor Group. The plaques were designed and manufactured by Claire Nikola, a member of Northwoods Manufacturing, a student group at Hurley High School.

WADEN is a collaborative organization of regional distance learning networks in the state that are managed by CESA 3, CESA 7, CESA 10, CESA 11, and the ERVING and NWECS consortiums. They work to provide K-12 and community education using live interactive video conferencing or other virtual delivery methods, expanding access to equitable learning opportunities for learners across the State of Wisconsin. During the 2022-23 academic year, K-12 school districts within WADEN and partnered colleges and universities provided over 4,160 students with high school and/ or college credit courses to which they likely would not otherwise have had access.

For more information about distance learning networks in Wisconsin or the Distance Learning Educator of the Year Award, contact Kostner at wadendirector@gmail.com.