The Award
The Iowa Teacher
of the Year Award was established in 1958 and is sponsored by the Iowa
Department of Education through an appropriation from the Iowa legislature. The award provides an
opportunity to recognize an Iowa teacher who motivates, challenges, and
inspires excellence; who is respected by students and peers; who is a dedicated
professional that helps nurture hidden talents and abilities; who is a
creative, caring individual; who takes teaching beyond textbooks and blackboards;
and who is an exceptional teacher helping to redefine American education.
The Iowa Teacher
of the Year may serve as the Iowa Ambassador to Education, acting as an
education liaison to primary and secondary schools in this state.
Nominations
Anyone,
including school administrators, colleagues, students, parents, college
faculty, and associations may nominate teachers for the award. Winners are
chosen by a committee that includes representatives of the Iowa Department of
Education (DE), the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), the School
Administrators of Iowa (SAI), the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), the past
Iowa Teacher of the Year, and representatives from higher education
institutions.
The Iowa Department of Education selected Andy Mogle as the 2008 Iowa
Teacher of the Year. Mogle is a family and consumer science teacher at
Norwalk High School in Norwalk. He has taught grades nine through 12 at
Norwalk since 1999. Mogle has a Bachelor of Science degree in liberal
studies and a Master of Education degree in family and consumer science
education studies from Iowa State University. Mogle was the Norwalk
Teacher of the Year in 2007. Prior to becoming a teacher, Mogle was a
chef and restaurant manager for more than 15 years. This
past experience is evident in his work as an educator. He has created
the
Warrior Café, a fully functioning restaurant in his classroom where
students
receive hands-on experience in the culinary arts.
The following is a podcast with
Mogle and Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey about the Iowa
Teacher of the Year program.
2008 Iowa Teacher of the Year Andy Mogle and
Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey pose for pictures
at the Teacher of the Year Award's Banquet held at the Science Center of Iowa on October 26, 2007.
Peggy Hall Beatty
Beatty is a gifted and talented teacher and a classroom and instrumental music teacher at Decorah Middle School in Decorah. She has 30 years of teaching experience. Beatty has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and English from Luther College, where she graduated summa cum laude. Beatty also has a Master of Arts degree in oboe performance from the University of Iowa.
Claudette Vernel Bees
Bees is a mathematics teacher at Hempstead High School in Dubuque. She has 25 years of teaching experience. Bees has a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education with teaching fields of mathematics and physics from the University of Texas at El Paso. She has a Master of Arts degree in mathematics education from DePaul University and is presently enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa's Advanced Studies/Principal program.
Sheila Coyle
Coyle is a visual art instructor at North Middle School is Sioux City. She has 26 years of teaching experience. Coyle has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Briar Cliff University and has participated in postgraduate studies in fine arts at Wayne State College and Morningside College.
Debora Masker
Masker is a vocal music teacher at Kirn Junior High School in Council Bluffs. She has a total of 29 years of teaching experiences. Masker has a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary and secondary education, with emphasis in vocal music education, from Northwest Missouri State University. She also has a Master of Science degree in elementary administration from Creighton University.
PK-12 Education 
2009 Iowa Teacher of the Year Nomination Form