Wal-Mart honors St. John's Vertz as Teacher of the Year

By Matthew Ryno / News Republic

One parent knew something good was going on at school when both her children came home with so much to say.

It wasn't a snow day or the day of a Christmas party — rather, Beth Vertz, a second-grade teacher at St. John's Lutheran School, won Wal-Mart's annual Teacher of the Year award.

Parent Karlyn Brown, said, "It says a lot they're actually coming up to us, saying she won. My younger daughter was interrupting my older one on the ride home — they were both trying to tell the story at once."

A manager at the Baraboo Wal-Mart, Victor Stapleton, presented the giant check to Vertz during an all-school assembly Tuesday as kids cheered. The $1,000 check will go to the school, and Vertz is given a $100 gift-certificate.

The teacher of the year is picked from surveys that are completed in Wal-Mart as parents and students do their school shopping.

Vertz was surprised by the award during the ceremony, and during an interview, she said she still didn't think the honor sunk in.

"I'm still shocked, it's a real big honor. I just want to be the one who is doing my job and helping those students to learn … I'm just doing my job," she said.

"I look at it not just an honor for me: it is an honor I have these abilities from God to teach, and that I love what I'm doing. He's truly the one who gives me that ability," she said.

She said her family certainly played a role in sparking her interest in education, and her parents were both teachers in parochial schools for a combined total of almost a century.

The other teachers at the school also helped Vertz, she said, and they are always helping each other in a continuous kind of professional development.

Vertz enjoys her job as well, which she says students love to see.

"First and foremost, (I enjoy) telling them about Jesus. Secondly, (I enjoy) that excitement in their eyes when they look at you and say, 'I get it.' That's the excitement I look for everyday when I plan a lesson," she said.

Principal John Hartwig said this is the first time St. John's received the teacher of the year distinction.

He was not surprised by the award though, given the level of commitment he sees from teachers daily. He said St. John's continues to grow because the work teachers put into the school is noticed by parents.

"I believe a big part of it is teachers like Mrs. Vertz. All these teachers go over and above … Our teachers are on duty all day. They have no aids and no prep hours," he said.

Perhaps some of the excitement seen by Brown from her kids, comes easily to them, because staff like Vertz have created a family-like atmosphere at school that is nurturing.

Brown remembered some time ago when she asked what her son's inspiration was and without a prompt, Mason, now in third-grade, said Vertz inspired him.

"I was very excited to hear she won," Brown said. "She's so dedicated to her students, and always seems to go the extra mile. She has helped my family so much in enjoying school."