Everest Excellence Awards

Nancy Aschbrenner served as a bus driver, dispatcher, route planner and driver trainer prior to becoming the terminal manager. She has utilized this extensive experience to direct a district-wide transportation service for thousands of children, find creative means of accommodating children with special needs, ensure the safety of students and design bus routes that best serve the needs of our students and residents. She has championed the Books on the Bus initiative to engage students in reading, is a respected leader across the district and is recognized for her kindness and compassion.

While DC Everest Senior High parking has been under construction, Pastor Joe and Bethany Baptist Church opened up their parking lot for free parking for Senior High students all year long, welcoming the kids with open arms and modeling what a glass half full versus half empty looks like. Throughout the year, the staff have greeted the students, provided snacks, drinks, and gifts to make them feel special and welcome. . We want to give them a heart-felt thank you for stepping up when they had absolutely no obligation or incentive to do so.
 

Joanna Bailey is credited with being an individual who is passionate about teaching and strives to inspire her students  while focusing on each student’s individual needs. She fosters an incredible learning environment wherein students are encouraged to be supportive of one another — building trust among peers. Every day she shows her students she cares about them and encourages them to be the best they can be. As one student noted, “She inspired me to go into education and she truly is remarkable.”

Kristina Barbier has worked relentlessly for years to help provide back-to-school supplies for D.C. Everest students in need. This year she and the Workplace Volunteer Council made an exceptional effort to provide supplies and backpacks for more than 600 of our students in an effort to help the District meet its mission to provide equitable opportunities for all students. Because of the commitment and generosity of Kristina and the Council, these children were able to begin the school year with the supplies they needed.

Marge Baumann, or Grandma Marge as she is known around Weston Elementary, has volunteered on a weekly basis for 7 years. She began volunteering in her grandchildren’s classrooms and continues to work with our students and provide a positive, nurturing environment even now after her grandchildren have moved on. Our students look forward to seeing her every week. She is a role model for students who need one most and her commitment has motivated students to be productive, responsible citizens in our community.

Melissa Baumann is a First Grade Teacher at Riverside Elementary and was nominated by a family who, over the course of a couple of years, were struck with life-altering health issues. During that time, Mrs. Baumann welcomed their children into her classroom with open arms, demonstrating compassion, respect, inclusivity and diligence that helped the children excel in the classroom and cope with the health challenges faced by their parents. As the family noted, Mrs. Baumann “shielded them from the world, and kept them loved, safe and nurtured.”

For the past several years, Chief Deputy Sheriff Chad Billeb has inspired countless D.C. Everest students to give serious consideration to a career in law enforcement. He has organized in-depth tours of his department for students, providing expert demonstrations in all areas of law enforcement, including police K9s, drones and bomb squads. And he has arranged to have officers visit classrooms to share their expertise on criminal procedures and inspire the next generation. Thanks to his efforts, DCE students are given the opportunity to explore this career field and meet law enforcement mentors and role models.

Dawn Bohm (aka, “Mama Bohm”) is recognized as a teacher who challenges and encourages students to go above and beyond — and who models that behavior for her students. She makes a tremendous effort to build relationships with students and families and truly cares for and provides guidance to her students, dedicating her personal time and energies to helping them achieve their full potential. Further, she engages students in her lessons — inspiring students to learn — and is willing to assist students with extracurricular projects beyond the classroom.  As one student noted, “I hope every student at D.C. Everest finds one teacher who cares as much as Mama Bohm. She cares for us and watches over all of her students as if they were her own children.”

Todd has gone above and beyond to show compassion and support to each of our children but in completely different ways. He can make each child feel important, feel seen and know they are cared for by giving them personal attention not only when they are in high school, but by remembering them for years later. As a parent, I also knew that I could talk with Todd regarding my children and any concerns I had.
 

Amanda Buege is recognized for her devotion to students as a speech therapist in the DCE District. She has helped students develop confidence, learn techniques that empower them and provide a safe environment in which students can share what they are feeling as they work to address speech impediments. She is a dedicated student and parent/guardian advocate who ensures everyone is aware of a student's progress and is readily available to address concerns. 
She is praised for the time and energy she puts into preparing for sessions and understanding the emotions of students. 

Lynn never has a mean word to say.  She makes working fun, for both teachers and students.  The classroom has been a calm and safe place to work and learn. 

Lynn not only goes above and beyond her calling as a teacher, but she also volunteers for family nights, PTO, school committees, Blessings in a Backpack, Rolling Readers, and much more.  She has dedicated her life to kids, school, and learning.  She is an amazing role model for not only the students, but also co-workers and community members.  Her passion for education and service is evident in everything she does.  Please honor her by choosing her for this recognition.

As a School Counselor, Deborah Chapman is honored for her ability to “make every child feel special and loved.” She assists children with trauma, grief, personal and academic struggles and the everyday pressures that life brings. Not only does she tend to the children at her school, but she also extends her care and concern to the families of students — and when students progress to the DCE Middle School, she collaborates with counselors there to ensure her students have continuity of care. As her nominator noted, she “exemplifies not only what you would want your child’s teacher to be, but she’s what you would want your child to be when they grow up.”

According to his nominator, Jim is a “good representation of what all teachers should strive to be.” Mr. Dahlgren is being honored for his exceptional efforts on behalf of his students and, in particular, the extra time and energy he gave to assist an autistic student who embraced the challenge of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. With Mr. Dahlgren’s support and encouragement, this student was able to step outside his comfort zone, showcase his accomplishments and present his business plan in front of an investors’ panel at the technical college.

Rodney Dombrowski went above and beyond to provide an innovative educational opportunity for three D.C. Everest Middle School students competing in the eCYBERMISSION event. When Mr. Dombrowski learned that the student team — the Jerassic Cheetas — was researching how plastic shard volume affects the strength, flexiblity and thermal conductivity of concrete, he provided the students with a tour of Wausau Tile’s Rothschild facility, critical background information and supplies for their project. For the next four months, he served as the team’s mentor, providing technical support and assistance. Thanks in part to Mr. Dombrowski’s dedicated support and his willingness to share his time and expertise, Team Jerassic Cheetas earned First Place for the 7th grade eCYBERMISSION contest in the state of Wisconsin.

Brian and Wendy Fust have hosted the 4th grade Foods for Tomorrow field trip at their farm for more than 20 years, providing multitudes of students a chance to learn about farming technologies and the importance of local agriculture to our community. They also offer DCE Senior High FFA students the opportunity to run teaching stations throughout the trip, helping them develop leadership skills critical to their future. Further, they employ DCE students, providing hands-on learning experience that ensures students develop lifelong career skills. They are selfless leaders and a great inspiration to our community.

Duane, an architect with Sommerville Architects, has designed all the #FutureReady referendum remodels of our schools. He has thoughtfully listened to our input, shared his knowledge, and brought our ideas to life with his designs. His vast expertise in school design and attention to detail have helped the District make informed decisions and create innovative learning spaces for our students. He has worked tirelessly (and commuted from Green Bay) on behalf of our students — always with the goal of designing spaces best suited for our 21st Century learners.

In 2009 Mr. Gwidt, a former school bus driver and Mayor of Schofield, began a fund called “Hot Lunch Shortfall” for any child who needed a hot lunch. Sometimes families face challenges that make it difficult for them to provide payment for a student’s lunch account but do not qualify for free/reduced lunch. Mr. Gwidt provides for those in need and raises funds by recycling metal with a local salvage yard. He began by raising funds for Evergreen Elementary, then he expanded to all elementary schools and the DCE Middle School.  Each semester he drops by Food Service or the Administration Building with a check for this fund, using the pseudonym “Uncle Zeke Goodheart”. As he noted, “Father Time is not on my side, but I do this for the kids.”

Through the Horvat Family Foundation, Mary Jane Horvat has generously supported a wide range of District initiatives, staff development projects and student educational opportunities. She has funded opportunities for students to attend musicals, mentored with renowned local artists, participated in hands-on STEAM activities and begun the school year with a backpack full of supplies. She has supported staff training opportunities ranging from math to social studies. And she has been generous with her time — volunteering to read to and with students at Weston Elementary and Mountain Bay Elementary schools in an effort to encourage youth literacy.

Kathy Heller is patient, compassionate and understanding. Kathy creates learning situations that allow all students including students with unique and individual learning needs to succeed. She keeps in mind that success isn't always in the shape of an A. Success for some students can be a perfect C on the test. I have observed this because, I am a paraprofessional in her math class. All students are getting a taste of success, in that class. The students want to experience it more and more. I see this daily. Kathy makes sure to make a big deal out of each success, whether great or small.

This year I was privileged to have Mr. Hoffman as a teacher. Mr. Hoffman takes his time to call company’s and community connections to get students out and into the workplace. He helps students see the potential of college and other career paths. I feel Mr. Hoffman does way more than he is required. He has helped me chose my career path and lined up job shadows for me. Staff wrote: : I have worked with Mr. Hoffman for many years and our CTE department has done well under his leadership. He has always been very devoted to the students and the opportunities we can provide for them.
 

We are very fortunate to have Erin Jacobson as our D.C. Everest Senior High and Pathways Program social worker, and New Horizons team member. She is hard-working, tireless, approachable, visionary, and most importantly cares deeply about our students. She is always willing to meet with students/families outside the normal school day, helps problem-solve with families in dire circumstances, has a vast knowledge of the resources available to those in need, helped start and maintain our food pantry that feeds 50-100 students weekly, and has been the driving force behind our holiday food deliveries and student shopping program.

A DCE alum, Dave Junion has dedicated countless hours sharing his art, photography and business expertise with DCE students. He has utilized his considerable talents to showcase DCE athletic events and musicals, the DCE Area Education Foundation’s IMAGINE fundraiser and community-school partnerships such as Project Search and credits the students he photographs for challenging his skills and pushing his own creativity. He has contributed to numerous local organizations that impact our students, staff, alumni and community, including the Everest Metro Police and Fire Departments, CWETA, Project Penguin of CWCT, the Children’s Miracle Network and Central Wisconsin Honor Flights.

The D.C. Everest Senior High food pantry is successful in large part because of the efforts of Sara Kronebusch, Trig’s Store Manager. Each year, she helps DCE volunteers assemble holiday meal packages for families in need and coordinates with pantry volunteers throughout the school year. In addition, she works closely with our Special Education program at the D.C. Everest Junior High providing students with behind-the-scenes tours of the store and opportunities to acquire critical life and work skills during their business class hours. Her dedication to the larger D.C. Everest community ensures that all students have opportunities to succeed.

Donald Kurth is a special needs monitor for Lamers Bus Lines who served for several years as a monitor for a Weston Elementary student. When she began attending DCE Middle School this year, he was concerned about protecting her legs from exposure to the cold while she was waiting for the bus and the wheelchair lift, so he hand-crafted a blanket — with her parents' permission — to keep her warm. Donald provides exceptional care for the wellbeing and safety of our DCE students.

Mary Jo Lechner has advocated for EL, at-risk and low socio-economic students, working diligently to ensure every student has equal opportunities within the district and the larger community. She is an individual who leads by example, by trusting and respecting the skills and talents of staff, and by encouraging others to take risks in the service of doing what is best for students. Her service and dedication to Blessings in a Backpack, Rollin’ Readers, EL Homework and Enrichment Club and Weston Connect, among others, has contributed to the success of each of these noteworthy programs.

Chad Lemmens, of Lemmens Creative Design LLC, volunteered his talents to capture weekly drone footage of the FutureReady Referendum progress at Rothschild Elementary where his son attended school. His stunning photos and videos provided the public with important updates and his time-lapse video will be featured at the school's open house upon completion of the project. He also created a "hallway procedures" video that students enjoyed, and is training district personnel on drone photography.

Teena Medick, Executive Director of Peyton's Promise, has made it her mission to ensure kids and families in our community do not go hungry. She has been an avid supporter of the food distribution for D.C. Everest families during the pandemic and we can always rely on her to help support our DCE Senior High food pantry. It takes a village to combat food insecurity and we are fortunate as a district and community that Teena and Peyton's Promise continually and enthusiastically support the mission of feeding children and families.

Berland exemplifies Everest Excellence. As a volunteer through the Habitat for Humanity organization, Berland has given thousands of hours of his time to ensure DCE Construction Trades students have what they need, when they need it, in order to build quality homes to improve the lives of local families. He has impacted the lives of hundreds of DCE students and families within and beyond our community. Berland has worked tirelessly to ensure our students have a real-life, relevant project by which they could learn skills that will benefit them for a lifetime. His legacy will carry on in the lives of those he has touched.

For many years, Dan served as President of the D.C. Everest Education Foundation. With his ongoing leadership and dedication, he guided the Education Foundation into a successful organization that supports students within the D.C. Everest Area School District by providing funds for innovative classroom programs as well as donations to DCE student clubs and scholarships for students. Dan also is a long standing member of the Everest Area Optimist Club that raises tens of thousands of dollars to support student scholarships, Elementary Random Acts of Kindness, Annual Everest Bike Rodeo and other student activities. His commitment to the district helps make D.C. Everest an amazing place for all students and staff.

After becoming aware of the large number of homeless students in the Wausau and D.C. Everest School District, Jim jumped to action.  Through his business and personal connections, Jim raised funds and collected winter coats, hats/gloves, boots, shoes, personal supplies, and clothing.  Jim didn't want any student worrying about winter clothing under his watch.  His commitment to students in our greater community is outstanding.

Cori is an excellent role model who truly and genuinely cares for her students. She has gone above and beyond, multiple times, supporting students when they struggle with different academic subjects. She even extends her caring, generous nature to students when they progress beyond the D.C. Everest Middle School. When the pandemic struck in 2020 she also assisted families in need. As her nominator noted, "I have never met anyone like her in my life. My son is beyond blessed to have had her for a teacher. She is so fun, genuine, and thoughtful."

Having retired from D.C. Everest, Rick Swanson has dedicated countless volunteer hours to meticulously weeding, mulching, watering, mowing, planting and trimming the landscapes of Rothschild Elementary and the Administration building. He is creative and thrifty, kind (creating a safe harbor for a mother duck and her ducklings) and ceaselessly energetic. Thanks to Mr. Swanson, our facilities provide outdoor spaces for our students to explore and a welcoming environment for staff and families.

Theresa consistently gives of her time and energy to support the students of Weston Elementary School. From running an after-school club for our EL students and not accepting payment, to volunteering and leading Rolling Readers, Theresa's commitment to the students of DCE is impressive. Additionally, she is the first to volunteer to help out at Weston for events, attends every PTO meeting, and does so with drawing attention to herself or seeking accolades. I am proud work with Theresa and cannot imagine a more deserving person for this honor.

Sue Thompson and Sarah Luedtke coordinate Hearts of Hope through Covenant Community Church, supplying winter clothing, holiday gifts and food for families in our community. They coordinate with our school counselors to identify families in need, and whenever we require a pair of snow pants or boots, they deliver them within 24 hours. They help hundreds of students and families each year, and their leadership and giving hearts are an inspiration to all.

Heather Turner is a Fourth Grade Teacher at Weston Elementary and is recognized for her devotion to her students and, in particular, her efforts on behalf of children dealing with trauma. Those who nominated her did so on behalf of a student who lost a parent. Her patience, understanding and ceaseless efforts to provide a stable, caring and loving classroom environment have helped this student work through grief and trauma. She is honored for her dedication and willingness to help students succeed on all levels — academic, social and emotional.

Brooke Wendorf made exceptional contributions to her Everest Virtual Academy students, helping them adapt to a new learning environment with kindness and respect that brought happiness to students during unprecedented times. She goes above and beyond expectations, providing EVA students with unique learning opportunities like meeting the renowned author Dana Simpson, hosting virtual field trips around the world and starting a virtual Lego Club and Drawing Club. She’s always willing to help families find solutions to problems. As one parent noted, “Knowing your teacher values you and finds joy in teaching is something that is a rare and beautiful gift — and one that she gives her students every day.”

Xia has shown tremendous support for the Everest community. She is consistently willing to share her knowledge and is approachable to answer questions and provide cultural background that may not have been considered previously. Xia is creative and flexible, quickly adapting to accommodate the needs of any group she leads. She has translated across the district 4K-12 for conferences, home visits, and enrollment, and assists in addressing mental health and cultural concerns. She is always willing to connect with families outside of her work day. Xia is an asset to the school district and the community.