Third Grade teacher Erika Galewski was named Wisconsin Private School Teacher of the Year during an all-school assembly at St. Mary’s Elementary, Altoona, and received a check for $3,000 from the Herb Kohl Foundation yesterday. At the surprise announcement, Galewski was overcome with tearful joy as her family suddenly appeared carrying balloons, flowers and cake. The student body erupted in applause.
During the all-school assembly held for “Teacher Appreciation Day,” St. Mary’s Principal Carisa Smiskey, thanked all the teachers for their hard work. Students presented the teachers with gifts. But they knew something else was up when Smiskey introduced La Crosse Diocese Superintendent Tom Reichenbacher and Regis Catholic Schools system President Mark Gobler and WCRIS staff. Reichenbacher and Gobler talked to the students about the dedication of all the teachers, and their goal to help students succeed.
Then WCRIS made the surprise announcement about Galewski being named Teacher of the Year and Kim Margraf from the Kohl Educational Foundation presented the check.
“Congratulations to Erika! We thank her for everything she does for education here in Wisconsin,” said WCRIS Communications and Outreach Coordinator Daniel Henderson.
Galewski was selected from among this year’s 14 private school Kohl Teacher Fellowship Award winners. As a Kohl fellow, she received $6,000 and another $6,000 for her school. As the winner of the Teacher of the Year award, she was awarded an additional $3,000, through the generosity of the Kohl Foundation.
WCRIS and the Kohl Foundation have worked together for over 25 years to celebrate private school teachers and the excellence they bring to Wisconsin’s educational infrastructure. The Private School Teacher of the Year was created in 2016, by the foundation, at the request of WCRIS.
To see the full list of 2018 Kohl Award winners, go here.
To learn more about the Herb Kohl foundation, go here.
