Sawyer School First Grade Teacher Honored with Classroom of Character Award

By Kathy Hanson

Ames Community Schools

On Oct. 24, Sawyer Elementary School teacher Vonda Junck was doing what she does best. Junck was engaging the first graders, who were transitioning from recess to science, through behavior expectations and instructional strategies that her students respond to and understand. All eyes were on the teacher until the door burst open and Principal Randy Podhaski strode into the room with an announcement.

“Mrs. Junck, we have a surprise for you,” Podhaski said.

In Podhaski’s wake, an entourage including KCCI TV reporter Emily Price, a video camera operator and a parade of people bearing gifts filed into the room.

“Can you guess what this is about?” Price asked Junck.

Junck was too surprised to reply immediately, so Price turned to the class.

“Have you been learning about the pillars of character?” she asked.

Wide-eyed, the students nodded in affirmation and recited all seven Character Counts traits: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

Price then read from a nomination letter written by veteran educator Clarice Herold, touting examples of learning experiences, projects, and acts of kindness Junck has provided her students to demonstrate character in action.

Junck, who’s been teaching for 25 years, said she is proud of her students’ role in the classroom’s award. One Iowa classroom garners the honor during each academic quarter, with recognition by KCCI TV, the Iowa State Education Association and Smart Honda of Des Moines.

ISEA presented $500 to Junck’s classroom. Smart Honda gave Junck an iPad2 and awarded Sawyer School a check for $2,500.

Junck is “well deserving” of the award, Podhaski said.

Junck said most any classroom at Sawyer would qualify.

“The school is full of examples of Character Counts,” she said.