Mason City teacher recognized with statewide award

(ABC 6 News) – A 1st-grade teacher in Mason City has been recognized as the 2022 Iowa State Education Association’s 2022 Excellence in Education Award recipient.

Tracie Dedor, a 1st-grade teacher at Hoover Elementary, was selected as the recipient after being nominated because of the "difference they make every day in the lives of their students."

According to a press release, a person who nominated Dedor said:

Dedor’s classroom is more than four walls. It is described as a living example of hope and family, and Dedor is a ray of sunshine who is committed to teaching her students how to succeed. Dedor refers to her students as scholars, explaining the use “scholar” helps demonstrate that her students are capable of more than they might believe. That belief has traveled through the school building and Dedor’s class is referred to as “scholars” by the entire school.

Dedor teaches her students to be proud of their cultures using among other things, sign language and Spanish to help students celebrate their individuality. Dedor takes an active role in all school activities, dresses up as children’s book characters to bring learning to life, and serves as a mentor and advocate for her colleagues. She is loved and respected by everyone she works with.

Dedor will be honored at the ISEA Summer Leadership Conference in August.