Education by Albert Lea Tribune

Progress Education

Albert Lea Tribune

February 24, 2018

Meet Albert Lea high school’s

CHAIN GANG

Stu Hendrickson, Jeff Jimenez, Josh Johnson, Steve Anderson, Bill Intihar and Jeff Ehlenz (not pictured) volunteer as the “chain gang” for Albert Lea football games. Colleen

Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Passion for football drives men to assist on the sidelines By Tyler Julson

tyler.julson@albertleatribune.com

oving up and down the sidelines, under the lights, in the middle of the action — all of these things would normally describe the average high school football player. However, there is another group of individuals who all of those items can apply to. The Albert Lea chain gang gets to experience the game up close and personal, being about as close to the football field as you can get without actually being on it. Some of them rotate on a weekly basis; some of them are there every week. Their range of experience runs from one year all the way up to 50 years of service. Stu Hendrickson, Jeff Jimenez, Josh Johnson, Steve Anderson, Jeff Ehlenz and Bill Intihar were all on the sidelines at Jim Gustafson Field at some point over the past season. See GANG, Page 2

What’s inside?

‘It’s part of who I am’ Teacher to retire after 40 years. Page 3

Team hits the target NRHEG students find success. Page 4

Helping truant teens Man finds fulfillment in job. Page 5

Making a difference Center is more than academics. Page 6

Page 2 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Progress 2018 | Education | Saturday, February 24, 2018

Stu Hendrickson, Jeff Jimenez, Josh Johnson, Steve Anderson, Bill Intihar and Jeff Ehlenz (not pictured) volunteer as the “chain gang” for Albert Lea football games. Colleen

Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Gang Continued from Front Page

They are the men who hold the orange first down markers, keeping track of where the line of scrimmage is, what down it is and the yard line the teams need to reach in order to continue their drive. Being in his first year, Hendrickson was a substitute this season for a few games. Whereas, Intihar was there for every game, and has been for 50 years, only missing one or two games throughout. Although their years of experience vary, there is one common aspect they all share: the love of the game. Ehlenz, a three-year veteran of the chain gang, said

he joined because he likes being on the field in the action and seeing the emotions of the players and coaches. He talked about what it is about football that he loves so much. “I love defense and clean, hard hits,” he said. “It’s very upsetting to see players leading with the head and getting away from the true way of tackling, which is head up and leading with the shoulder… I also enjoy the animation of our coaches Black and Bitz, as I know them personally and they bring a heck of a lot of passion to the game.” After being on the sideline for 50 years, Intihar decided to make the 2017 season his last. He said he did it for so long simply because he always enjoyed doing it and he loved being in the great fall weather. He said before

By the numbers 50 Years Bill Intihar has been on the chain gang. this year, he had never even given quitting a thought. Intihar was also a teacher for 34 years in the Albert Lea school district, teaching an array of business classes during his tenure. He has seen many teams, players and coaches come through the program over the years — so many, that he can’t pick out a favorite memory or player because there have been too many. He said he hasn’t seen a lot of changes to the game itself over the years, but he has noticed one major difference.

Men who were a part of the chain gang in 2017. “The game is a lot faster now than it’s been in the past,” Intihar said. “Other than that, its pretty much the same.” Anderson and Jimenez have been on the crew for a combined 15 years. “I’ve been on the chain gang for five years,” Anderson said, “It is a fun way to see the game, be involved and be around the kids.” He said the more memorable games he has been able to work are the ones when the weather has been less than ideal with rain or snow. His favorite part about the sport is the teamwork that

Times any of the crew has been seriously injured on the sidelines. everyone needs to have to be successful. Jimenez, a 1983 graduate of Albert Lea High School, said he “bleeds cherry and blue,” and that he joined the chain gang because he loves football and it was a way for him to be a part of it without coaching or officiating. Jimenez agreed with Intihar in that the game hasn’t changed a lot, but he does have a favorite player he enjoyed watching. “Hands down, Kyle Kriewall,” he said. “I watched that guy take hit

after hit, and he kept getting up — the gutsiest performance I’ve ever witnessed.” Hendrickson is a rookie to the high school chain gang this year, but he has been running the chains at different levels for a while. Hendrickson’s reason for joining the crew was much like everyone else’s. He likes doing it because he is at field level and he is always close to the action. Another big reason why he does it is also his favorite player. “That’s an easy one,” Hendrickson said. “(My favorite) player is my son, Koby Hendrickson — No. 3.” Though the reasons for being a part of the Albert Lea chain gang vary slightly from man to man, they all come back to the same main point: They are doing it because they get to be around the things they love.

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Saturday, February 24, 2018 | Education | Progress 2018 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Page 3

‘It’s a part of who I am’

Albert Lea Transitions program teacher to retire after 40 years in education By Sarah Kocher

sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com

If you walked into her Emmons classroom in the ’90s, you may have seen something unexpected: a special education teacher taking trimmers to her students’ hair. Lori Nelson estimated she gave about 30 haircuts during her time teaching. She would get a note of permission from the students’ parents. “A priority for me was to always build up their confidence,” Nelson said. She also took several students’ senior pictures. “You know, it doesn’t take much just to get a good picture, but you know, it’s something that you need,” Nelson said. At the end of this school year, Nelson will retire after 40 years of teaching, largely in the special education field. Nelson is currently running the 18-21 transitions program at Brookside Education Center, where she works with students with disabilities on increasing their independence by building functional and vocational skills. “I knew all along I wanted to teach special education,” Nelson said. When she was young, she had an obsession with the story of Helen Keller, she said. Now, there’s a quote about Keller printed out on white copy paper and tacked to the soft fabric bulletin board above her desk at Brookside. It says, “If Helen Keller’s teacher had believed that her learning was hopeless, Helen’s potential would have remained dormant.” It’s from a book by Tom Cody that Nelson read as part of a teacher’s group last year. In her classroom now, Nelson’s students are frequently measuring out flour and sugar for recipes they work on together. Nelson said some of her students are able to take these recipes home and cook for themselves or their families. She has been introducing cooking into the classroom for years. “Even from the beginning, like my very first job in Iowa, I always thought cooking was important to bring to the classroom because it’s such an important life skill,” Nelson said. She said she used her own budget to buy ingredients when she taught her math students about fractions using quesadillas. Although cooking in the classroom is still featured after 40 years, Nelson said education as a whole has changed since she started teaching. Special education has evolved, she said — when she attended school the laws were changing about how special education students were involved in standard classrooms: they weren’t. She went to school, Nelson said, during the “desegregation” of special education students. There was also no emphasis on handicap accessibility when she started teaching.

Transitions program students Cameron Schultz, Sarah Thompson and Anita Maloney finish up their chocolatey batter as the oven heats up. Lori Nelson said she has been incorporating baking and cooking into lessons since she began teaching 40 years ago because she sees them as important life skills. Sarah Kocher/Albert Lea Tribune

By the numbers 3

Lori Nelson’s first year of teaching

1978

Times Nelson has seen the education community change the way they refer to students with disabilities during her career

Haircuts Nelson estimates she has given her students

“Things have really changed through the years,” Nelson said. She has also watched as special education has gone through cycles of focal areas. When she was writing her master’s thesis, she wrote it on attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder because two of her own children were diagnosed with it. Now, Nelson said, awareness is growing around autism. She has not only seen changes in education, but also in herself. She notices it in the same form she said she is working to grow in those she teaches: confidence. “I have a lot of experiences,” Nelson said. “I have my experiences with different students, different family dynamics, different schools, that I think are much more beneficial than a college degree.” Nelson is using that experience while mentoring

a first-year teacher through a Minnesota Department of Education program. “I have been fortunate to have her supporting me,” Lyle teacher Molly Noterman said through email. “She acknowledges struggles I have as a first-year teacher and offers possible solutions.” This includes a list of suggestions for modifying classroom materials after Noterman needed ideas. “Her assistance has already had such a positive impact on my career,” she said. After four decades in education, Nelson is beginning to see the generations come through: her students might be children of former students. Nelson said one of her favorite things is to run into people she has taught before. “I really enjoy seeing past students because I may think they’ve forgotten me, but they haven’t,” she said.

“And I haven’t forgotten them.” Nelson said she has stayed in the education field because she sees the ways her work impacts her students. “I can see the value in what I’m doing,” she said. Nonetheless, the haircuts may end here. “I think it’s going to be hard to retire … because it’s part of who I am,” Nelson said.

Lori Nelson, Sarah Thompson and Anita Maloney work through a Christmas treat recipe as the transitions program prepares holiday goodies for the building.

Lori Nelson keeps two picture boards of former students in her classroom at Brookside. She said hearing about how her students are doing after they move on is one of her favorite things about teaching.

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Page 4 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Progress 2018 | Education | Saturday, February 24, 2018

NRHEG team hits the target with sport By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

NEW RICHLAND — Five members of the NRHEG clay target team gather on a cold winter day between fall and spring shooting seasons. For these students, the team allows them to enjoy a sport they love without needing to meet the physical standards sports such as football and basketball require. Since 2011, NRHEG has fielded a team with students from the district, as well as students from Albert Lea, Owatonna and JanesvilleWaldorf Pemberton schools for a majority of years. During the season, the team participates in oncea-week shoots and sends the scores in, competing with schools such as Hermantown, Alexandria, Blaine and other programs. Most participants shoot clay targets with a 12gauge shotgun, but players with a smaller stature participate with a 20-gauge firearm. The divisions the Panthers compete in are decided by team size, meaning the team competes against a wider array of schools than other sports. NRHEG has qualified for state two of the last four years it has competed. “We’re a competitive team,” head coach Dan Sorum said. The team has seen an extensive increase in participation since Sorum started the program at NRHEG in 2011. He was driven to start the team after helping oversee regular trap shoots as an FFA adviser in the 1990s. “I found that this league existed,” he said. “I thought, ‘Well, let’s see if kids want to do it here.’ And we got 14 kids that first year, and parents loved it and kids loved it. And it just boomed after that.” Forty-five students participated in the team last fall, with 62 in the spring. Team members said

Aaron Olson, Evan Dobberstein, Chancellor Olson, Caden Beauvais and Alex Dobberstein are members of the NRHEG clay target team, which has been competitive since its inception in 2011. Sam Wilmes/Albert Lea Tribune increased local participation in the sport comes as the sport’s popularity increases statewide. “It’s very fun,” said team member Chancellor Olson. “It’s very competitive.” “It’s just such a good feeling to see yourself improve and see yourself grow and become a better shooter,” said Olson’s brother and fellow team member, Aaron Olson. Team members said clay shooting is not as intensive as football and other sports, and shooters who are not physically gifted can still participate in the program if they can shoot safely. Team members have participated even after suffering injuries that would

have rendered them unavailable to participate in other sports. NRHEG student Caden Beauvais participated in a shooting competition while utilizing a walker after breaking his leg. The Minnesota State High School clay target league is operated by the USA High School clay target league. The state league is an independent provider of shooting sports as an extracurricular coeducation activity for students in sixth through 12th grades. Sorum said players are vigilant about being safe while shooting. “They have a lot of fun, A member of the NRHEG clay but they take safety very target team participates in a seriously,” he said. shoot. Provided

2017 fall clay target roster Hudson Aase Parker Aase Noah Alinder Matthew Bartness Justin Bartz Caden Beauvais Evan Beckmann Tory Christenson Gabe Dahle Levi Denherder Alex Dobberstein Evan Dobberstein Gaven Harris Dylan Ingvaldson Dalton Kraay Walker Krampitz Keira Lenort Ross Lenort Trevor Lenort Makota Misgen Grady Murphy Aaron Olson

Chancellor Olson Jack Olson Andrew Phillips Charles Pittman Braxtyn Possin Ashton Raimann Andrew Reich Evan Reyna Ralph Roesler Alex Romer Andrey Rosevold-Wisler Braden Routh Hanna Sack Morgan Sack Tristan Simon Jacob Skinness Carter Stencel Clay Stencel Carter Suchanek Hunter Tufte Ashton Worke Sam Zimmerman

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Saturday, February 24, 2018 | Education | Progress 2018 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Page 5

Court services officer finds fulfillment in helping at-risk youth Why does Routh choose to give back to the community as a court services officer?

By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

It is a busy Tuesday morning for Freeborn County court services officer Alex Routh. He assists a client and continues his work, which might not end when he leaves the office late that afternoon. For Routh, though his work is sometimes difficult, the fulfillment he receives for assisting at-risk youth makes the stress well worth it. As a court services officer, Routh’s main caseload involves truancy cases with students who range in age from 12 to 18. Students are deemed truant by the state if they have at least seven unexcused absences in one school year. “Our goal is to avoid court action,” he said. “Our goal in the end is to get them attending and get that diploma.” Routh notices multiple reasons why truant youth do not attend school on a consistent basis, such as bullying, substance abuse, needing to care for younger siblings, a lack of family emphasis on education and academic difficulties. Resources in Freeborn County assist Routh in his job, and referrals are sometimes made to a children’s mental health unit where anxiety and depression can be treated. Cedar House Inc. also provides an avenue where at-risk youth can be helped. “We see a lot of anxiety in regards to social setting … students get anxious at school and aren’t wanting to attend because of that,” he said. Work is done with students who have chemical dependency concerns. An assessment is completed, and recommendations are gathered. At-risk youth sometimes attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings and take chemical dependency courses. Sometimes inpatient care is needed, and out-of-home placements are a “last resort,”

Routh said it is a rewarding job for him to have. “At times, it’s emotionally tolling and stressful, but in the end, it’s where I want to be.”

Court services officer Alex Routh is investing in the community by working with truant youth. Sam Wilmes/Albert Lea Tribune Routh said. Out-of-home care can include group homes in a setting similar to homes, to non-secure facilities that are similar to a juvenile detention facility. Placements can range from a few days to six to nine months. “We don’t like sending kids out of the home,” he said. “It’s hard on the parents, it’s hard on the student — it’s hard on myself, as well. I don’t ever like seeing a kid go to placement, because it is very emotionally tolling for them, but sometimes it’s necessary.” Electronic home monitoring is sometimes used to prevent at-risk youth from being out past curfew. He also reaches out to special education providers to prevent truancy cases. To Routh, despite a heavy caseload, he finds fulfillment in his position. “It’s not work for me, I enjoy it that much,” he said. “I’ve been here about 2 1/2 years, and I haven’t had a day that I haven’t wanted to

By the numbers 12-18

2 1/2

Ages of the students Routh works with to prevent truancy.

Years Routh has worked as a court services officer for Freeborn County.

Years Routh wanted to work as a court services officer before finding the job.

come to work, I enjoy it that much. It’s super rewarding when you see a student who gets it. Not all of them do, but when you do see a student who gets it and goes on and betters himself and stuff like that, it’s good to see. “Ultimately, they’re giving back to the community.” Routh has witnessed clients change their lives in a positive way after receiving help. A student who at one point was not attending school is now close to earning his GED, which would make him one of the first members of his family to receive the degree. He has also witnessed at-risk youth beat methamphetamine addictions.

“I’ve seen kids that have battled addiction, and by the end of the process — whether they did it on their own or with help from us — I mean they beat that addiction, they stayed sober.” Routh, who used to work at a state prison in Faribault, said he wanted to work in a position similar to the one he has now for about 10 years because of the interaction with the public a court services officer has and the legal aspect of the job. “I’ve always enjoyed working with people, and that’s why I went into this,” he said. A Freeborn County native, Routh said that was part of what drew him to apply for the position.

“I interviewed for it and it’s in my home community,” he said. “And that’s when I said, ‘I want to work in my home community. I plan on staying in my home community. If I get hired, I’ll be here and I plan to stay here.’ “So it really was a blessing.” Some of Routh’s clients are guarded and sometimes personalities don’t mesh, but Routh said being personable is the key to communicating with at-risk youth. “The style I take is being personable,” he said. “I mean, you need to meet people where they are at. You can’t fully understand their situation, but you can at least hear them and try

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to come up with a plan based on what their situation is.” Though it is important to have a rapport with clients, it is also important for Routh to let his clients know when their behavior needs to be addressed. “It’s a balancing act,” he said. Routh sometimes receives phone calls and text messages from law enforcement officers or clients who are in a crisis situation. Most times when he is awake he responds, even when he is at home. “That’s not something that you can just turn off and walk away from,” he said. “It’s something you need to address and set them up with the resources they need.” Routh sometimes encounters people in the community when he is off work. Some hold animosity toward him, while others appreciate him for the work he does. His work with at-risk youth sometimes comes at a critical point in their lives. Addressing negative behavior in juveniles can prevent future criminal acts and lead to adults who give back to the community in a positive way. Routh plans to be in his position well into the future in a community he calls home. “It’s an excellent field to go into,” he said. “I mean, it takes thick skin at times, but it’s rewarding as well. I’ve been here 2 1/2 years, and I’ve enjoyed every day of it. At times it’s emotionally tolling and stressful, but in the end, it’s where I want to be.”

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Page 6 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Progress 2018 | Education | saturday, February 24, 2018

‘Little things can make a big difference’

By the numbers

A.L.’s Adult learning center looks at needs of community members

146 Students enrolled in an Albert Lea Adult Learning Center course or program

By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

Building up the community. That’s what education does, especially adult education, according to Penny Jahnke. Originally from Alden, Jahnke has been the adult education coordinator at Brookside Education Center in Albert Lea for about seven years, a position she is extremely passionate about. She oversees the different programs offered through the Albert Lea Adult Learning Center — formerly referred to as Adult Basic Education — which include classes for working toward a GED, United States citizenship, obtaining a drivers license, learning English, math, computer literacy skills and paraeducator training, among others. Jahnke said she is looking into adding a pre-CNA class, as well. She said they’ve pulled away from calling the programs Adult Basic Education because “there is nothing basic about what students are learning.” Albert Lea Adult Learning Center better reflects their students, she said. For Jahnke, the variety of her job always keeps it interesting. One day, she could be helping out in Brookside Education Center’s day care, while on another she could be helping with a drivers education course or finding grant money to help a student pay for taking his or her GED test. “Every day is different,” Jahnke said. She said the students who come through the center are hardworking, driven

Different countries students come from who attend classes at the center

7 Years Jahnke has worked as the adult education coordinator at Brookside Education Center

A drivers education program is just one of the classes offered through the Albert Lea Adult Learning Center. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Adult education courses are offered at Brookside Education Center, 211 W. Richway Drive in Albert Lea. individuals who are looking to better themselves and improve their families’ lives. Many of them work and buy or rent homes in the area, as well as send their children to area schools and shop at local businesses. “I think they’re a huge asset to our community,” Jahnke said of her students. She estimated over 50 percent of the students work and take care of family members on top of going to school. A number of those

students are refugees or immigrants living and working in the U.S., and bring a lot of diversity to the area. Thirty-five out of 146 students in adult education programs at the center hail from Myanmar — many of whom are Karen refugees. The next country of origin with the highest number of students is the U.S. at 34. The rest of the students come from countries such as Mexico, Thailand, Sudan, Cuba, Vietnam, Jordan, Denmark, Venezuela,

Guatemala, Ukraine and Brazil. Jahnke said a huge misconception is people thinking those students are potential drains on the system or are trying to simply use resources, which could not be further from the truth. They put an incredible amount back into the community, she said. The courses aren’t just for immigrants looking to obtain U.S. citizenship, though. Jahnke said she recently had a 51-year-old woman come in to test for her GED so she could get a promotion through her employer. She said it’s refreshing to work with the people she does, as they’re constantly looking to better themselves and work hard. “I think our students give just as much back to us,” she said. The learning center also works with a number of different agencies to help its students, such as the United Way, Semcac and Human Services, among others. “It isn’t just about getting an education, it’s about

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providing,” Jahnke said. “We want to make sure we’re meeting their needs. “We really look at the whole family to be a resource, and are looking at how we can help all of our community members.” An example: Jahnke had a student — a single, working mother — who worked nights and had to figure out how she would get her young daughter to a school musical performance. Jahnke called the school on her behalf, before walking up and down Brookside, eventually finding someone else with a child performing in the same concert who could get the woman’s daughter to the performance. “It doesn’t have to be a big, grand gesture,” Jahnke said. “It can be small, but still be significant. … I don’t do anything amazing.” That’s what she loves about her job. “Little things can make a big difference in people’s loves.” Jahnke credits the success of the learning center to not only the students, but

the people she works with. She said it’s a “well-oiled machine” that works well together to best help its students succeed. She said one of the biggest misconceptions some students have is that they’re too old to learn. She said that couldn’t be further from the truth. The adult learning center has students ranging in age from 17 to 76, and Jahnke said they tell their students the hardest part is just walking in the door when coming to learn. Other students are surprised at how much the center wants to help. Jahnke said they’ve set up dental clinics, day care, library internet hotspots and other resources to help their students have better access to learning and better resources in general. The constant goal the adult learning center looks to achieve is to serve its community, Jahnke said. A big part of that will be branching out and working with potential employers to see what they need in the workforce locally. “How are we meeting the needs of all our citizens, all of our community members,” she said. “People need workers. How can we work together and train to meet the workforce needs?”