7 Natrona County Teachers Honored As 2022 Ellbogen Meritorious Educators

It's been said that 'Those who can't do, teach,' and never has a statement been more erroneous.

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Educators, especially in Natrona County, do more than they know. That's why things like the Academic Awards Banquet was created.

According to a press release from the Natrona County School District, "The Academic Awards Banquet began in 1998 to recognize the exemplary work of the top 10 percent of each school’s graduating seniors and the educators who have significantly contributed to their high academic achievement. Student growth, high academic achievement, and positive influential adult-student relationships are foundational components contributing to the success of students, schools, and our community. The group of students and educators honored as part of this community tradition exemplifies the successful attainment of that goal."

Students who are honored are able to nominate three educators who they believe have contributed to their own academic achievement and/or positively influenced their educational journey. The educators who received the most nominations from students were chosen to be honored as an Ellbogen Meritorious Educator at the Awards Banquet.

The funding for the awards and the banquet come from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation and the Ruth R. Ellbogen Foundation.

"Congratulations to the 2022 Ellbogen Meritorious Educators on this recognition and exceptional honor," the press release stated. "Your outstanding work to provide all students with positive and inspiring opportunities to excel and achieve high academic success has made a lasting positive impact on their educational journey and, ultimately, a significant positive contribution to educational excellence and our community. Thank you."

The Natrona County School District said that they are honored to parnter with the Academic Awards Banquet Committee, as well as with the Casper College Foundation, the Ellbogen Foundations, and all of the educators for "their significant support and dedication to empowering every learner to grow, excel, and become successful contributors to our community."

The 2022 Ellbogen Meritorious Educators are:

Karen Bayert
Kimberly Kent
Annette Pace
Randy Bower
Rebecca Sondag
Anne Barreda
Todd Trupp

The Academic Awards Banquet Committee and the Natrona County School District also named the 2022 Significant Educators:

Michelle Adkins	Timothy Fauss	Carla Larsen	Donna Scott
Megan Amadio	Kathleen Finch	Jennifer Lewis	Chad Sharpe
Daryl Amador	Bridget Fink	Aaron Makelky	Peter Sipes
Cheryl Anderson	Jason Foery	Cody Marvel	Kaoru Slotsve
Christopher Asay	Brenda Foy	Elizabeth Masterson	Ernest Smith
Jamie Bachert	Jim Fulkerson	Randy McIntyre	Gene Smith
Dwight Ballard	Shawn Galles	Andrea Miller	Jessica Snell
Jeff Barkell	Brent Greene	Hannah Miller	Rebecca Sondag
Kristy Barr	Steve Grussendorf	Pamela Miller	Bud Sorensen
Anne Barreda	Cheri Grutkowski	Ben Mitchell	Paula Sorensen
Karen Bayert	Bridget Gwilliam	Caroline Mooren	Jim Spaulding
Christine Beamer	Victoria Haight	Matthew Neely	Whitney Speiser
Casey Beck	Sarah Hanson	Michelle Nicol	Shireen Stafford
Katherine Boehnke	Elizabeth Harris	Michelle Onstott	Meegan Steinberg
Eleanor Bolender	Angela Hartl	Christine Owen	Erin Stillwell
Jennifer Bower	Dustin Hebert	Ryan Owens	Becky Strand
Randy Bower	Sue Heisner	Annette Pace	Devon Strube
Cynthia Brachtenbach	Karen Higginson	Danna Parker	Jacob Stutheit
Steve Brater	Kim Hilderbrand	Carrie Patterson	Jared Swenson
Jane Brown	Kalen Hill	Wendy Pollock	Matthew Teterud
Joni Bunce	Aaron Hinton	Jill Pomroy	Todd Trupp
Rebecca Byer	April Hischke	Ronald Powell	Wayne Tuttle
Susan Carlson	Erik Holden	Josh Propp	Scott Underbrink
Angela Cavalier	Ashlie Howell	Tara Realing	Daphne Vaughn
Jacob Chaloupka	Dennis Howell	Brandie Reed	Leah Washington
Mark Cimburek	Paul Hult	Duane Reimer	Shawn Weis
Jamie Clouser	Arthur Ireland	Randy Ridgeway	Heather Wetzel
Tobias Clouser	Carla Itzen	Mack Riggs	Jolene Whitley
Aubrey Corbett	Stephanie Jensen	Desiree Riley	Bethany Williams
Amy Costello	Jonna Johnson	Alicyn Roberson	Kristina Williams
Jeffery Crouse	Vicky Johnson	Nicole Roden	Kristy Williams
Shawn Delaney	Jill Felbeck-Jones	Christy Rodgers	Patricia Williams
Gary DePaolo	Catherine Kellick	Katarina Rooney	Lacey Wilson
Kristi DePoorter	Melanie Kelly	Brent Rose	Jessica Winford
Mauro Diaz	Kayla Kennedy	Jo Schiller	Debra Womack
Marcee Diller	Traci Kennedy	Susan Schilling	Erin Zavodny
Kerin Dillon	Kimberly Kent	Peter Schmotzer	Rick Zimmer
Jenny Edwards	Patricia Kindel	Zach Schneider
Brianna Farrell	Leah Lange	Sheryl Schroefel

So, anybody who says "those who can't do, teach," have clearly never met a teacher from Natrona County. Our teachers do so much. They prepare our children. They cultivate education. They inspire greatness.

They save lives.

Teachers, especially in Natrona County, do more than they could never know. And for that, we thank them. We acknowledge them. We honor them.