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March 26, 2009
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Brian Ludwigs |
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Douglas Wood |
The Regional Center for Teaching and Learning at Morningside College has presented the 2009 National Alumni Educator of the Year Award to Douglas Wood, an artist, musician and author from Sartell, Minn., and the 2009 Siouxland Alumni Teacher of the Year Award to Brian Ludwigs, special education teacher at Sergeant Bluff-Luton Schools.
William Deeds, Morningside’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, and Pete Hathaway, associate education professor, presented the awards at a dinner on Wednesday, March 25, in the college’s Olsen Student Center. To be considered for the awards, candidates must exemplify the qualities of an effective educator, have made a significant contribution to the field of education, and have had a positive impact on students and their families.
Wood received his bachelor’s degree from Morningside College in 1973. He is the author of more than 20 books of fiction and nonfiction and has received the Christopher Medal, ABBY Award, International Reading Association Book of the Year, Parents’ Choice Award, Minnesota Book Award, Barnes and Noble Star of the North and the Midwest Independent Publishers Association’s Book of the Year award for his writing and storytelling talents.
Wood taught music in Iowa and Minnesota before becoming a naturalist and wilderness guide in northern Minnesota. From 1984 to 1991, he hosted a weekly radio show, “Wood’s Lore,” in St. Cloud, Minn.
Ludwigs received his bachelor’s degree from Morningside College in 1980. He teaches special education for third through fifth grades at Sergeant Bluff-Luton Elementary School. He helps students with severe behavioral disabilities in both academics and life skills so that they may succeed. He has served on the Student at Risk Team (START) for several years. This committee strives to find strategies to help reduce issues caused by misbehavior and to adjust the academics to better serve students with special needs. Ludwigs finds value in gathering student performance data in order to show parents and students their progress and areas where they may need improvement.
Ludwigs has been teaching at Sergeant Bluff-Luton for 19 years. Prior to his position with the elementary school, he worked with Marian Health Center in their Adult Intensive Care Psychiatric Unit and Adolescent Conduct Disorder Unit, both giving him intense training and information that he uses in his classroom.
Other nominees for the Siouxland Alumni Teacher of the Year Award included:
Sioux City – Jeri Sturges, Bishop-Heelan Catholic School; Barb Bielenberg, Imelda Garcia, Sandra Hamman, Paula Hamp, Brian Linafelter and Steve Warnstadt, Sioux City Community School District.
South Sioux City – Peggy Tramontina and Heather Zediker, South Sioux City Community School District.
Iowa – Brenda Gran, Charter Oak-Ute Schools; Lynn Davis, Galva-Holstein Community School District; Amy Lefler, Lawton-Bronson Schools; Tracy Wingert, LeMars Community School District; Kathy Westergaard, West Monona Schools; Julie Murphy and Connie Smits, Westwood Community Schools.
Morningside founded the Regional Center for Teaching and Learning in 2001 to work collaboratively with other institutions and agencies to improve education in the tri-state region. Nancy Mounts serves as the center’s director.
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