The Atlantic Rotary Club and Administrators with the Atlantic Community School District, Wednesday afternoon, paid tribute to retiring teachers and staff of the District. The event culminated with the award for Rotary Teacher of the Year.

Gini Jordan (far right), 2017-18 Teacher of the year, and her family. (Click on the image to enlarge)

That award went to a woman who was recognized at the beginning of the event, Gini Jordan, Schuler Elementary School Special Education teacher, who is retiring after more than 34-years with the District. Schuler Principal James Northwick spoke about Jordan’s being a Catholic School Teacher for six-months. Later she would work in Audubon, and finally to Atlantic, where she was a substitute teacher and then a Special Education Teacher.

He said he and others will greatly miss her ability to be a mentor to those around her, someone who would stay after school to talk with teachers well past the end of the school day, and was always able to revive his plants or at least offer advice on how to care for them. He says she’s always willing to help.

Toward the end of the program, last year’s Teacher of the Year award winner Lisa Munsey, read from some of the nomination forms submitted on Jordan’s behalf. One of the respondents said “This teacher is an excellent role model for our Six Pillars of Education: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.” She went on to read “[She] treats students with dignity and respect….[she] has one of the biggest hearts in education…[she] is committed to students with Special Needs. [She] is skillful and creative in the classroom and shares knowledge and expertise with others.”

The nominator said Gini Jordan also “Has always has a special knack with some of our tougher students…[she] isn’t afraid to take on a challenge and is an expert in building  relationships with students.” Jordan’s family was in attendance for the surprise award, including her son James (who graduated from AHS in 2003. He now makes machines for genetic sequencing) her two daughters, who are also Atlantic graduates who went on to become teachers in Carroll and Iowa City respectively, and her husband Jim, who will retire from the Iowa DOT on Thursday.

She said “It’s been a wonderful career that I’ve had, the joy and satisfaction that I’ve gotten from getting to know all of you…I couldn’t have this [award] without you.” She closed by saying “I wish you all the same wonderful career that I had.” Other awards were presented to the following retirees: Ginger Bechtold, Dan Amos, and Barb Linn. Many other teachers and staff received certificates for 10- 15- 20- and 35-years of service to the District. Superintendent Steve Barber also recognized those persons who will be leaving at the end of the current school year in pursuit of other opportunities, including Activities Director/Asst. High School Principal Matt Alexander, who will become Superintendent for the OA-BCIG School District.