19 retire from Sauk Prairie School District this year

The Sauk Prairie School District will bid “Happy Retirement” to nineteen retirees this year representing 408 years serving the district and 478 total years serving education. The retirees are Karen Ballweg, a cook at SPHS, Bill Been, SPHS Eagle Academy teaching assistant, Cindy Duban, SPHS social Studies/psychology teacher, Andrea Gibson, Bridges teaching assistant, Dan Halling, SPHS social studies teacher, Heidi Halling, SPHS special education teacher, John Haupt, Bridges Elementary psychologist, Joan Horne, Grand Avenue Elementary teaching assistant, Lorie Kessenich, Grand Avenue and Bridges Elementary reading teacher, Julie Kessenich, Bridges Elementary music teacher, Pat Klappa, SPMS teacher, Jody Ladsten, Merrimac Community School teaching assistant, Tammy Leidig, Merrimac Community School teaching assistant, Susan O’Neil, SPSD administrative secretary, Reid Patterson, Grand Avenue custodian, Glenn Schuster, Grand Avenue music teacher, Cathy Stowers, SPSD curriculum assistant, Lynn Wipperfurth, SPMS teacher, and Darcy Wirebaugh, Bridges Elementary teacher. Beginning this week in the Star News, retirees will be featured who responded to interview questions. This week will feature Sauk Prairie High School retirees.   Cindy Duban   Cindy graduated from U.W. Parkside and then spent one semester student teaching in two Racine schools. She substituted for one semester in the Kenosha and Racine school districts.  She has taught Human Relations and Current Affairs (a long time ago), World History 1 & 2, Sociology, Psychology, and AP Psychology. She has also been the advisor for the Pompom squad. “ have very happily been at Sauk Prairie High School for 41 years, states Duban.  “Sauk Prairie is a great place to teach. We are respected and treated professionally,” she shared.  “I will remember many of my wonderful students and even a few who were... shall I say...challenging. I have worked with many wonderful staff members and they have become wonderful friends” Duban’s favorite part of teaching is “being in front of a room of students willing to learn the amazing topics I teach. My majors in psychology and sociology (minor in history) are the most fascinating subjects in our world and I got to spread the fantastic ideas and knowledge about them. These are topics everyone uses EVERY DAY of their lives. How great is that?” In answer to the question of what has been the most challenging time of her career she replied, “The pandemic…I ‘need’ to see my students’ faces and check for understanding which is very hard to do virtually. Teaching by computer is NOT what psychology and sociology are about. The hybrid schedule was better but took a lot of time and I couldn’t cover all the material needed. It was hard to get to know my students with masks on and hard to teach with my mask on.” What is she most proud of? “I am most proud of all my students who ‘caught’ the need to spread the word and teach others. Look how many of our current and past teachers were former students. Thank you to all of you who carry on our education.”  Duban has no specific plans for retirement “other than finally catching up on cleaning the house and then doing some traveling. I hear that retirement is a wonderful experience. I will be able to spend more time with my family and friends (book club!)”   Dan Halling “I could have been a student forever because I was interested in so many things. My BA was from the University of Northwestern in St. Paul where I studied Theology. My MA was from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary where I studied Social Ethics. I worked on a PhD at UW Madison in Land Ethics before getting my teaching degree at Edgewood,” says Halling of his path to teaching at SPHS. He taught social studies at SPHS for 25 years and also coached JV baseball for about 10 years.  “What will I remember about teaching here? All of the staff and students.” The most enjoyable part about teaching is “seeing student growth. Also, working with teens every day keeps you young!” The biggest challenge during the pandemic was “the uncertainty and not being able to plan. The best part were the low numbers which meant no classroom management issues and students were more polite and serious than other years. I never heard so many “thank yous” from students as I did this year.” Halling said his proudest accomplishment was “developing a Wisconsin/Local History class that I have been able to teach the last few years.” (See picture above.) Retirement Plans? “ I will have a very happy dog! We run trails every day and hunt most days in the fall. I want to start tying flies again. I have already accepted a position on the board of the Badger History Group. I don’t know what lies down the road for me, but I know I will be camping somewhere on the first day of school next year!”   Heidi Halling After earning a B.A in biology and life science education at Gustavus Adolphus College, Heidi taught for three years in a residential program in the Boston area. She and her husband Dan then moved to Sauk Prairie, and she worked on earning licensure in special education while teaching at SPHS. In 2004, she earned a Master’s degree in education from Viterbo University. Halling has been a SPHS special education teacher for 30 years and coached gymnastics from 1991-1998. She was assistant coach for cross country 1992-1994 and 2008-2020. “I will always remember and appreciate the students, parents and staff members who made a positive impact on my life while allowing me to be a part of their journey. I will remember the people who took risks and spent energy to make a constructive difference.” As for Halling’s favorite parts of teaching she replied, “Teaching and coaching was never dull; there were new, good challenges and problems to solve every day. My favorite part was being able to develop relationships and work towards goals with students over time. My teaching and coaching roles usually allowed me to work with the same students for several years in a row. I liked that.” Commenting on teaching during the pandemic Halling said, “Educating during the pandemic had some benefits despite being a stressful time and everyone being restricted in so many ways. It was good to have more time and space for learning. Many students were more rested and healthy-- I only went through one box of tissues-- and overall, there were fewer behavior issues.”  “I’m most proud of the relationships I had the chance to be a part of where learning was the central core of our fun. I’m most proud of the “light bulb” moments, when students said, “Aha! I get it.” Heidi’s short-term plan is to run/hike trails, read, garden and enjoy all four seasons. “I’m not sure about my long-term plan. I have a bunch of ideas.”    Other SPHS retirees are: Bill Been, a teaching assistant with 15 years at SPHS and 18 years in education, and Karen Ballweg SPHS cook with 39 years of experience and service.