West Newsmagazine 5-24-17

May 24, 2017
24 I SCHOOLS I WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
Teacher of the Year celebrates 30-year career teaching kindergarten in Rockwood
By JESSICA MESZAROS
Diane Dressel loves many things: red
licorice, NASCAR and all the students in
her kindergarten class at Pond Elementary.
After 30 years of teaching and serving over
1,000 students and their families, her hard
work earned her West Newsmagazine’s
2017 Teacher of the Year Award.
“When you think of a kindergarten teacher,
her face just pops into your head,” said Dr.
Dave Cobb, executive director of elementary
education for Rockwood. “She’s amazing
in her craft, and to teach for that many
years, you have to be passionate at your job.”
On the morning of May 12, in Pond
Elementary’s library, West Newsmagazine
and its Excellence in Education sponsors
surprised Dressel, in the presence of her
kindergarten class and Rockwood faculty
members, with the news of her award.
Dressel was given an iPad, a commemorative
plaque, balloons, a dinner certificate
and a bouquet of hydrangeas.
“I was so surprised,” Dressel said. “I’m
literally still in awe. I brought the plaques
to school so I can hang them in our room. I
look at them and think, ‘Is this real?’”
Dressel was nominated by Jill O’Dell and
Sarah Wade, whose children she teaches.
“She’s an amazing, amazing teacher,
inside and outside the classroom,” Wade
said. “She really lives for her students.”
According to O’Dell, Dressel is known
for her devotion to her students, including
staying late on weekends to perfect
lesson plans and setting play dates before
the school year to ensure new students feel
comfortable on their first day.
“It just makes me realize that the amount
of time that I’m putting in is so worth it,”
Dressel said. “It’s not about what I’m doing,
it’s about what I’m doing for the kids.”
Dressel also attends students’ athletic
events to cheer them on.
“She came to my basketball game once,”
student Alex Wade said. “I really appreciate
her. I don’t even want to go on to
another grade because I still want her to be
my teacher.”
Dressel said, “I enjoy seeing my kids
out of their setting, because it just builds
those relationships with the parents as well
as with the kids. If the parent gives me a
schedule, or if I’m invited, I’m there.”
Dressel’s parents, Lars and Doris, were
on hand for the surprise presentation.
“It’s very exciting,” Doris Dressel said.
“I don’t know where the time goes.”
Dressel graduated from Saint Louis University
and began teaching at Geggie Elementary
in 1987. After one year, Dressel
was hired by Pond Elementary, where she
has worked for the past 29 years. During
that time, Dressel also has been a ROSE
Award Recipient and was Pond’s 2009
Teacher of the Year.
In addition to helping the district adopt
tuition-free, full-day kindergarten options,
Dressel also was a member of the Kindergarten
Transition Committee for Rockwood
and helped craft Pond’s current
science and math curriculum,.
According to student Egnazzio Salia,
Dressel utilizes innovative strategies to
make daily lessons engaging. Activities
have included students creating puppet
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Celebrating excellence in education are [from left] Dr. Dave Cobb, Rockwood’s executive
director of elementary education; Pond Elementary parents Sarah Wade and Jill O’Dell;
Andrea Lockwood, Pond Elementary assistant principal; West Newsmagazine Publisher
Sharon Huber; Diane Dressel; Tammy Noel, owner, Sylvan Learning Center; Brenda Bader-
Tucker, senior vice president, Busey Bank; Dr. Carlos Diaz-Granados, Pond Elementary School
principal; and Board of Education member Randy Miller.
[Photo courtesy of Karl Weinrich]
shows and writing news stories to present
at a news desk for a classroom newsreel.
“She’s awesome,” Salia said. “She
always does a lot of new things.”
The West Newsmagazine Teacher of
the Year Award is presented annually to
one West County teacher who has made
a difference in the lives of students. The
award is sponsored by the following local
businesses: Busey Bank of Ballwin; Cape
Albeon Senior Retirement Community;
Dobbs Tire & Auto; Dream Play Recreation;
McDonald’s of Town & Country
and Chesterfield Valley; Schrader Funeral
Home; and Sylvan Learning Center.
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