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Bright future on teacher’s horizon

Education

Written by Kristen Waggener

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 09:00

Louisburg High School teacher Jodie Berve was onw of 32 first-year educators across the state to receive then Horizon Award. (Photo by Kristen Waggener)

Louisburg USD 416 staff found out last week that one of the best first-year teachers in the state is among them.

Jodie Berve, a special education and communication arts teacher at Louisburg High School, is one of 32 teachers in the state to receive the 2009 Kansas Horizon Award.
Each year, four elementary and four secondary first-year teachers in each of Kansas’ eight regions are honored with the award for performing in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding. And this year, Berve, who is in her second year as a teacher but sixth in the district, received one of those awards.

Berve remembers well the moment she heard she was selected for the award.

“It took my breath away,” Berve said. “I had kind of forgotten all about it.”

LHS Principal Sally Lund-blad called Berve into her office, along with Superintendent Rick Doll. When the phone rang during their meeting — an occurrence that almost never happens — Berve knew something was up.

On the line was Alexa Posney, the Kansas commissioner of education, who quickly told Berve of the good news.

“I was shocked and surprised, and it was overwhelming,” Berve said.

The call

Berve didn’t start out as a teacher. For the 18 years before she joined the LHS staff, Berve worked in the corporate world.

“I wanted to do something different,” she said.

“I think teachers, some time in their life, said something like ‘I could be a teacher.’ It always felt like something I wanted to do.”

So, six years ago, Berve took the leap and applied to become a paraeducator at LHS.

“The first day I walked through the doors, I knew this is where I was supposed to be,” Berve said.

The feeling was mutual for Principal Lundblad.

“She applied to be a special education paraprofessinoal at Louisburg High School, intending to decide whether she wanted to return to school to become a full-time teacher. It didn’t take her long to get hooked; nor did it take us long to get hooked on her,” Lundblad wrote in her recommendation letter supporting Berve’s nomination for the award.

Special education

Berve originally received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth. After going back to school, she obtained her teaching license in language arts through Avila University’s graduate teacher certification program and then received a master’s degree in special education from the University of Saint Mary, Overland Park campus. She is now back at Avila finishing a second master’s degree in teaching and learning.

Originally intending to become an English teacher, Berve enjoyed working with special education students as a para and is now a special education teacher at LHS.
“The best way to teach is to figure out how kids learn best and go with it,” she said.

In her letter of support, Lundblad said Berve never gives up and advocates for her students and holds them accountable.

“I help kids get through their classes by enhancing what’s going on,” Berve said.

One activity Berve said her students enjoy is graffiti on the board, where she will write something on the board, and students are given the chance to respond any way they wish by going up to the board and writing what they think.

It gets us past the initial questioning and conversation,” Berve said. “Students with learning disabilities sometimes have a hard time participating in class, and this gives them more opportunity to do that.”

Working with students is a special thing for Berve, who says the rewards she gets out of her job are unmatched.

Her favorite part, Berve said, “is the part where kids let you in and they let you build a relationship with them.”

Home in Louisburg

Two weeks ago Thursday was the day Berve found out she was awarded the Horizon Award, an honor she says is reflective of the positive environment she works in.

“She is so dedicated to the welfare of her students that sometimes we even have to rein her in,” Lundblad said of Berve’s dedication. “She’s really good about thinking outside the box and bringing another perspective to education other than someone in education their entire career.”

Berve is only the second USD 416 staff member to have been nominated and honored with the Horizon Award since its inception in 2003. The other winner is former LHS teacher Molly Baumgardner.

As a Horizon Award winner, Berve gets to be part of the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network.

“I think that’s the neatest part of the whole award, is I get to participate in the direction of education in the state,” Berve said.

She will also be recognized at the KEEN state education conference Feb. 19 and 20 in Topeka.

Berve said while receiving the award is a huge honor, she has to thank the administration and her coworkers for their support.

“I am a product of this school,” she said. “These are my teachers and mentors. They helped me do this.”

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