FDCSD Names November Students and Employee of the Month
November 2, 2021, Fort Dodge, IA- The Fort Dodge Community School District is pleased to announce its students and employee of the month for November. This program recognizes one elementary, one middle school and one high school student, as well as one staff member monthly for exceeding expectations.
Aryan Keck is the Elementary Student of the Month. Lisa Reisner and Jason Drew nominated Keck. They said Keck loves to be challenged to learn more and grow. He doesn’t like to settle or limit his learning and he’s always wanting to better himself, often asking for extensions in math. He is continuously helping others when he is done with his work, and finds success with helping explain and encouraging his peers. He is always looking for the class to do well. Keck can be counted on to do what is right. He is a quiet leader, leading by example in many aspects of his daily routine. They concluded by saying, “The thing that really shines in the classroom is the enormous amount of respect his peers have for him. His peers see his example and he makes everyone around him better. Aryan is a great friend to all.” He is the son of Sammy and Danielle Keck.
Madison Carmody is the Middle School Student of the Month. Allyson Geopfert nominated Carmody. She said Carmody has done an excellent job this school year, especially as she has transitioned back to the classroom from virtual learning. She is always willing to put in extra work to ensure that her answers are thorough and is eager to share ideas, answers, and thoughts aloud to the class. She is the leader in the classroom, encouraging other students to challenge themselves in their academics. Carmody has great character. She sits next to a student who needs the directions read multiple times and helps him without prompting. She is also the student who encourages people to join her table when a student is sitting by themselves. Geopfert concluded by saying, “Maddie is a huge role model for our pod. I really appreciate her help as a genuine student. I am lucky to be Maddie's teacher!” She is the daughter of Joshua and Alicia Carmody.
Destinee Phillips is the Senior High Student of the Month. Andi Adams nominated Phillips. She shared that every day Phillips comes to English 10 with a smile on her face and her work completed and done extremely well. Her thinking is always outside of the box; her ideas are unique and deep. She always helps others in her class and encourages them to do their work to the best of their ability. There are many students who have IEPs and do not particularly like school, but she helps encourage them to keep coming back! Phillips is awesome and kind! Adams concluded by saying, “Destinee is the epitome of a student who knows exactly what she wants out of life: a strong education.” She is the daughter of Dustyn Phillips and Belecia Seward-Phillips, and Brandie Al-Hameed.
Brooke Bleeker is the Employee of the Month. Jason Lampe nominated Bleeker. He said it would be incredibly difficult to find another District employee who puts as much time and energy into working with students, planning day to day instruction, assessing, sorting, and designing interventions for students. He indicated Bleeker assesses student learning on a nearly daily basis using a detailed rubric that allows her to give specific feedback to students on a topic by topic basis. While time-consuming, she doesn’t hesitate to put in the work because it's what she believes is best for her students. Her students know and understand that spending time after school with her is an opportunity for her to get to know them on a more personal level and to identify and fill any learning gaps that may exist. Lampe concluded by saying, “Ms. Bleeker is a model teacher. It is abundantly clear that she cares for her students and shows that in nearly every interaction with them.”
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