Merrill teacher wins Kohl Foundation award
By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald correspondent
MERRILL -- Amy Bergmann, Spanish teacher at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Merrill, is a recipient of this year's fellowship award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation. The award was presented to her at a recognition banquet held March 19, in Green Bay, Wis., attended by Sen. Herb Kohl, who gave the opening remarks.
The Herb Kohl Foundation Excellence Scholarship and Fellowship program was established in 1990, and annually recognizes 100 graduating seniors and 100 teachers and their schools throughout Wisconsin. Its purpose is to support teaching excellence and innovation. By awarding the recipients a $1,000 grant, the foundation supports teachers in their classroom goals and helps further their professional development. Matching funds are also given to the recipients' schools.
Fellowship awards are based on a teacher's ability to inspire a love of learning in his or her students, the ability to motivate others, and service within the classroom and in the community.
Because Wisconsin's private and parochial schools only receive a proportionate number of the total awards, Bergmann did not expect to be a winner. "We were told everyone would receive a letter from Sen. Kohl," she said, "so when I opened the mailbox, I said to my son, 'Here's my congratulations-for-being-nominated letter.' I was very surprised. I didn't think I had much of a chance."
Donna Conley, principal of St. Francis School, who nominated Bergmann said, "Amy is an excellent role model and is respected by the kids, her peers, as well as the parents. She just finished her master's degree, and for a person only working part time, that was a tremendous educational achievement for her."
The 32-year-old Bergmann began her teaching career at St. Francis eight years ago. She teaches Spanish part time to the middle school students, and recently obtained her master's degree in elementary and middle school education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She and her husband, Len, have three children, ages 13, 11 and 3. She also volunteers as a Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher, and is secretary of the Merrill Karate Club, to which she and her son both belong.
In Bergmann's notification letter, Kohl praised her "skill as a leader and agent for positive change and superior ability to inspire love of learning."
"I just think she is very professional and very personable," added Conley.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2006