Arcadia Lodge - Masonic Teacher of the Year - Ann Espinosa 4/15/11

Ann Espinosa was presented with the Arcadia Lodge Masonic Teacher of the Year Award last night at a dinner in her honor.

Ann Espinosa     Martin Jacobs, Worshipful Master

Ann Espinosa

Ann Espinosa

Arcadia Lodge Teacher of the Year

Ann Espinosa grew up in Mason City, Iowa.  She attended Luther College in Decorah, receiving her Bachelor Degree in Primary Education.  Since that time, Ann’s life has been Family, and Teaching.

Ann taught First Grade and Kindergarten in Mason City for 8 years.  She then taught Kindergarten in Urbandale for 3 years.  The remainder of her career, since Fall 1991, has been in the Ames School District, specifically at Kate Mitchell Elementary, and is now a veteran of nearly 20 years of teaching in the local school district, and 31 years overall teaching the youngest of the young.  

During her tenure at Ames, she has taught both First Grade and First/Second Combination Grades.  Ann has participated at all three school districts in Professional and Curriculum Development Teams, as well as Instructional Strategies, traveling extensively around the United States to other districts and schools learning the best techniques and curriculum for primary education staff.  Once trained, she would return to her local staff to train and educateothers on the latest practices and theories from around the country.

Outside of work, Ann has volunteered at United Way, and is an integral part of her childhood church in Mason City, singing in the choir, serving on the Board of Worship, and teaching Bible School.  Ann hopes to continue her volunteer work at United Way, the Library, Hospice and local Hospitals once retired (in a few years).  She works every school event at Kate Mitchell, and virtually every parent in southeast Ames knows Ann.

Just about every morning you can see Ann walking the circuit around Ada Hayden Park before school.   She loves to read, travel with her family, and enjoys family and friends.  Ann is absolutely devoted to her mother and father who still reside in Mason City, visiting them often.  Oh yes, she is also one of those “other” fans (black and gold), but that’s OK.

A testimonial to Ann from Mitchell parent Julie Sankey says:  Miss E also took time for each student.  She also took the time to know each of her students, and at the end of each year, she would take them out for supper.  She also would pick them up and take them home.  Some of the kids have never been to a nice place to eat before.

 I think an overheard comment in the Teacher Lunchroom might say it best:  “Miss E is such a good teacher, she could teach this table to read!”

Ann is totally devoted to teaching, it is her life, it is her passion.  Only through teachers such as Ann can we hope to teach and raise our children to be the responsible adults we all hope them to be.   

Congratulations on a job well done over many years.  Arcadia Lodge and the Masonic Lodge of Iowa appreciate Ann’s work, and the work of all teachers in our children’s schools.