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CREA Friends of Education

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Diane Bockenstedt (left) and Rondee Troester have earned the 2022 Clayton Ridge Friends of Education Award. (Press photo by Caroline)

By Caroline Rosacker

Longtime educators Diane Bockenstedt and Rondee Troester have earned the 2022 Clayton Ridge Friends of Education award for their continuing dedication to the Clayton Ridge School District.

The two elementary teachers have been educating area youth for over three decades. 

Troester began her 36-year career as a Special Education teacher, eventually settling into a position as a fourth and fifth grade teacher in Garnavillo.  Troester has two children, Anna and Amos, and three grandchildren June, Lewis and Sage. 

Bockenstedt began her 34-year career in Guttenberg teaching fourth through eighth grade. Throughout the years she has organized the safety patrol, the color guard for the high school band, accompanied small vocal groups and instrumental ensembles on piano, and is scorekeeper for volleyball and basketball. She has two children, Derrick and Jennifer, and four grandchildren, Kya, Bryson, Cody and Kyrie.

The two women have a long history of helping out wherever they are needed, and supporting the students and staff in and outside the classroom. 

Looking back the women shared the positive aspects of their careers. 

"We have enjoyed experiencing many of the successful education programs that cycle back through the teaching curriculum," they noted, "They are often introduced as new programs and renamed, but they are actually proven techniques that work!"

The dedicated teachers had to adapt to the ongoing improvements in technology throughout the years. "We both remember when we had to get rid of our chalk boards," they laughed. "Technology has its place, but the old-fashioned way works also."

"It's so important to make connections with your students," commented Troester. "Through intercommunication I am able to visit with students and share aspects of our lives outside of school. My students are my kids! My own children often commented when I was doing something special for my students at home, 'I suppose that's for your kids at school.'"

Bockenstedt weighed in, "Those connections make the students feel important and they know that you care about them as a person, which makes them more attentive in the classroom." 

Although Troester and Bockenstedt are both retired, they continue to enjoy substitute teaching. "I came back because I missed the kids," said Troester. 

"They keep us in tune to what is going on in the world," Bockenstedt continued.  

The two educators are honored to be chosen for the Friends of Education Award. "There are so many amazing teachers and employees at Clayton Ridge!" they stressed. "It takes all of us in every department working with the students, parents and guardians to provide the best possible education experience. The award should go to everyone. Not just the two of us." 

"It takes everyone working together to create a safe learning experience. It has been extremely rewarding for both of us and we are grateful for the opportunity to educate our students," they concluded.

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