Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 129, Number 7, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 16 February 2006 — Page 6
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• Advance News • Thursday, February 16, 2006
Teacher believes she’s made the ‘Wise’ decision
By Anthony Godson Editor She has a perfect name for a teacher, but when this school year ends, this "wise woman" will also be leaving school for the last time. "I've enjoyed every single second of teaching," Nappanee Elementary first grade teacher Beth Wiseman said last week. Wiseman has been a first grade teacher in the Wa-Nee School Corporation since August 1986, but will move on to other endeavors once this school year wraps up. "My husband retired four years ago, and I think he kind of wants to have me at home," Wiseman said of her decision to retire. "We have a grandson we get to baby-sit three days a week, so I'd like to spend time with him before he gets to school." Leaving her profession to spend time with family is no surprise from Wiseman, who left her home state of Florida for family. "My husband, Al, grew up here, and remembered Nappanee as a very nice community and a nice place to raise our child," Wiseman said. Beth is actually from DeLand, Fla., as is Al, but their journey to Nappanee is anything but predictable.
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DAT PHOTO Tootin’his own horn V Freshman trombone player Isaac Blosser shows that he is multi-talented, getting his picture taken while keeping the beat at a recent boys basketball game.
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While they are both originally from the same Florida area, it took many years for the two to actually meet. While Al was bom in Florida, he moved to Nappanee when he was only 2 years old. Many years later, he moved back to Florida, where he lived with his grandparents while he was enlisted in the U S. Marines. It was at that time when Beth and Al would meet. "His grandmother asked if I could give her a ride from church one night," Wiseman said. "On the way home, she said she had a motive for asking she wanted me to meet her grandson." From that meeting, the two would go on to get married, spend time in Florida, then move on to Northern Indiana. While in Florida, Wiseman began her teaching career at a private school, but quickly realized a change would need to be made. "I earned $4,500 a year in private school," she said. "And we had to buy all of our own supplies. After that one year, it was clear to me, that I'd definitely have to work with children in public schools." One of Wiseman's high school instructors had become a principal at a local school, which got her into her next position.
Community
"I got that job, and stayed for 14 years," she said. At the end of that 14 years, Al's job with Siemens Corporation allowed him to transfer to Nappanee, where he could work out of his home. While Al was working out of home, Beth was looking to catch on as a teacher in a local school system. When Wiseman first moved to Nappanee, an Indiana teacher was obligated to have a master's degree if he or she was five years removed from college. "When we moved here, that changed," Wiseman said. Just as Wiseman did move, the master's degree requirement was thrown out, and Wiseman earned her chance to teach in Indiana by passing the Indiana State Teacher's Exam, although she would go on to earn her master's degree. Even after becoming qualified to teach in Indiana, Wiseman hit a small snag she had too much experience. "I was coming in with 15 years experience," she said. "John K. Miller was the assistant superintendent at that time, and he said that with 15 years experience, it was not economically feasible to hire me." As it turned out, a job was made available for Wiseman, and she became the first grade teacher at South Elementary.
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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/A.W. GADSON Nappanee first grade teacher Beth Wiseman gathers her students around her to discuss their latest book. Wiseman will retire from teaching at the end of this school year.
"It was like the Lord had it all prepared," she said. While in Florida, Wiseman taught seventh, eighth and third grades, so first grade was something new for her. It may seem like the age difference between a first and third grade student isn't that large, but for a teacher, the ages require different teaching styles. "In third grade, students are seeking to please, but also want
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PHOTO SUBMITTED North Wood students who received recognition for their artwork at the regional competition are (Front, left to right) Katherine Ufkin, Sam Telschow, Alex Rethlake, Tiffany Dull, (Back, left to right) Ricky Shelton, Maggie Ward, Ryan Wise, Josh Yoder and Brad Russell. Hannah Brown is not pictured.
ART, Continued from Front
The works of art will remain on display at the South Bend Regional Museum of Art until Feb. 18. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. North Wood Middle and High School Winners • Gold Key : Brad Russell (Drawing); Ricky Shelton (Drawing); Sam Telschow (Ceramics and Glass); Maggie Ward (Drawing). • Silver Key: Tiffany Dull (Drawing); Nathan Scheets
AROUND, Continued from Front
BINGO The second annual Longaberger Basket Bingo, sponsored by the Theta Delta Chapter of Psi lota Xi, will be held Saturday, March 4, at St. Isadore's Hall at the comer of Maryland and Bike Streets in Bremen. The doors open at 9:30 a.m. and play begins at 10 am. Longaberger Baskets, as well as filled themed baskets, will be given as prizes. Tickets can be purchased at the door S2O for 20 cards, additional cards are $1 each or 6 for $5.
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to be independent," she said. "In first grade, the students seek to please, but they also have to be with you every minute." The difference in grades taught weren't the only change Wiseman had to adjust to from Florida to Nappanee. Growing up within an hour of Disney World, she was well aware of tourism, and that was the first thing she thought when she saw Amish buggies.
(Painting); Maggie Ward 2 (Drawing); Josh Yoder (Mixed Media). • Honorable Mention: Hannah Brown (Drawing); Kayla Carney (Mixed Media); Come Henke (Drawing); Alex Rethlake (Drawing); Lindsey Steffen (Printmaking); Sam Telschow (Ceramics and Glass); Patrick Thompson (Printmaking); Katherine Ufkin (Mixed Media); Maggie Ward (Drawing); Ryan Wise (Drawing). Portfolio Award Maggie Ward.
Psi lota Xi is a National Philanthropic Organization, whose main area of concentration is in the field of Speech and Hearing. Proceeds from this event will go toward current efforts of the chapter in these areas as well as projects in literacy and the arts. FREE MASONS All Nappanee and Bremen Free Masons are encouraged to attend the Bremen Lodge 414 meeting Tuesday, March 7, at 7 p.m.
"I just thought it was a good way of transporting tourists," she commented. After 19 years, she now knows what the buggies are transporting, but some teachers at Nappanee Elementary are now looking for ways to transport her back to the school. "There are some teachers here who want me to come back and do other things," she said.