Teachers & Staff
The 2011 recipients of the
Peter Hess Memorial Teacher Recognition Award
 Courtesy Thoele Photography |
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My name is Kelly Weets, and I am a 1990 graduate of Lincoln High School and a native of Thief River Falls. After graduating from Bemidji State University and obtaining my first teaching job at Win-E-Mac, I returned to Thief River Falls in 2001 and accepted a position as a Communications teacher. I am very pleased that I was able to return to the community and the schools that influenced me so much as I was growing up. I’m happy to be able to “give back” in any way I can, and am proud to be part of the talented staff and strong academic tradition in the Thief River Falls public schools. I have worn many hats in the TRF district over the years. I’ve taught Communications at Franklin Middle School, Lincoln High School, and the Northwest Area Learning Center. I’ve also served on the District Staff Development Committee, the District Technology Committee, the LHS Leadership Team, the Freshmen Advisor/Advisee team, and a few other committees that no longer exist! I’ve also coached boys and girls swimming and served as Junior Class/Prom advisor. Five years ago I took over the role of Lincoln High School’s Media Specialist and returned to school, this time to St. Cloud State, to obtain my School Library Media Specialist licensure and begin a Master’s degree program in Information Media.
I really enjoy working in the Media Center; it gives me the opportunity to work with nearly all students and staff at some point during the year. Whether it’s helping someone find a good book, assisting students with research, or teaching other teachers how to use available technology, every day offers something different.
When I’m not at school, I can usually be found spending time with my family. My husband, Jason, and I have two daughters; Jenna is 8, and Jillian is 6. We’re happy to call Thief River Falls home and look forward to following our kids’ Prowler progress through the years.
I’d like to thank the Hess family and the Thief River Falls Education Foundation for fostering the growth of our dedicated staff. I am honored to be named a recipient of the Peter Hess Memorial Teacher Recognition award.
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When anyone thinks of him they think of kids. He has an enormous heart for children. He always puts kids first. He is willing to do anything for kids. As you probably noticed, everything that I mentioned about this person had kids in it. I want to share an acronym for KIDS about this person… K is for kind. In the 11 years that I have known him he is so kind. He has never raised his voice, became upset, or was mad. He always has a smile on his face. No matter what the challenge is, Kenny is there with a smile.
I is for incredible. I can go on forever on this word. Incredible that he is at Challenger at 6:15 every morning. Incredible that he has been in education over 40 years. Incredible that he uses any scrap or leftover to make into something useful. Incredible that he likes turtle soup. You will have to ask him about a potluck a few years ago. And incredible that he rarely misses a day.
D is for doing. He can do anything. He can make anything--shelves, cubbyhole holders, birdhouses, benches and many different crafts. He will do everything and anything. He goes to Deep Portage, Rydell, and farm trips. He helps everyone, he is a doer!
S is for sharing. He helps so many children and it is mostly unnoticed. He brings children to his cabin, Twin’s games and helps them out financially. He shares his talents with all of us. He shares his time. He spends extra hours making our district, staff and students better. He would take his shirt off his back and give it to us because that is the way he is. He is giving! Finally, he shares his sense of humor. He loves to pay practical jokes on his friends. Every year he puts a log in Tom Schafer’s pillow at Deep Portage. He enjoys making people smile.
This person is our friend and I am honored to work with him.
The great news is that he told me last spring when we were waking up at 5:00 a.m. at Deep Portage that he has 25 more years left at CES. Thank goodness he won’t be retiring soon.
Patrick Marolt
Principal
Challenger Elementary School
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