PRINT ADS

Bangor Elementary School Prinicipal Lois Meinking was working even harder than usual last week. Besides the typical end-of-school-year chores, she was preparing for summer school classes, packing up for the move to the new elementary school addition and planning for Bangor’s 4-year-old kindergarten next year while also interviewing applicants for the new 4K position.

In the midst of all that, she received the rather pleasant news that the La Crosse chapter of Phi Delta Kappa had just named her Educator of the Year.

According to PDK President Betty Pfaff, Meinking “was honored for her tireless dedication to promoting quality education for all children and to her commitment to PDK. She is willing to do whateaver it takes to improve educational opportunities for her students.”

Founded more than 100 years ago, Phi Delta Kappa is considered the premier professional association for educators and a dedicated advocate for public schools.

“It’s a very professional organization and I feel honored to be selected from such a great group,”Meinking said.

She has been a member since 1986 and has served in many positions. “I’ve been president, vice president, historian and secretary — it’s something I give to because education has given me so much,” Meinking said

Her award generated a flood of positive comments from those who know her. District Superintendent Roger Foegen noted that this has been an exceptionally busy period for Meinking.

“Lois is very child-centered. She is a strong advocate for our elementary studens and has been very active in planning for our 4K program start-up, besides assisting in the decision-making process with the planning and construction of the new elementary building addition,” Foegen said. “This has all been in addition to her regular duties as K-5 principal, curriculum director and summer school director.”

High school Prinicipal Don Addington was equally positive about Meinking’s educational contributions. “Lois is very task-oriented and diligent. She always has the welfare of her students at heart. She has really helped and supported me in my first three years as principal,” Addington said.

Dr. Robert Richardson of UW-La Crosse is one of the many local educators who has been impressed with Meinking. “She is known for her constant, effectual care for and about students (at all levels),” he said.

This is not the first award for Bangor’s elementary school principal. Last May, she was named Cambridge Who’s Who Professional of the Year in Educational Curriculum and she also received the Bronze Leadership Award from the Junior Achievement Upper Midwest District in August.