Wisconsin State Journal: A guidance counselor at Indian Mound Middle School in McFarland has been named the Wisconsin middle school teacher of the year.
Jill Runde was honored in a surprise ceremony at the school, with state superintendent of schools Tony Evers making the announcement in an all-school assembly.
Runde gets $3,000 from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation, along with a plaque.
Runde began counseling at McFarland High School in 2002 and went to Indian Mound Middle School five years later.
According to a news release from the Department of Public Instruction, Runde has used improvisational skits by students at the high school to make them aware of such topics as bullying, stereotyping, teen suicide, puberty and drugs and alcohol, and also set up an ambassador student liaison group at the middle school to give support to students.
“The McFarland community is a much better place for children, thanks to someone as dedicated as Jill,” said McFarland Youth Center president Shawn Miller, in supporting her nomination as teacher of the year.