Mr. Henry named Montana VFW High School Teacher of the Year

Malta educators Delmer Henry and Lynne Brewer were honored by the local VFW Buster Deo Post 4067 last Wednesday during an assembly at Malta High School with awards at both the local and state levels.

Henry, in his 28th year of teaching, was honored with the Education Teaching Recognition award at the local, District and State level, which included a cash prize, several certificates and a Teacher of the Year award with a glass apple atop a wooden base with his name and a VFW emblem on it.

"I am very humbled," Henry said. "There are a lot of different people who are just as deserving as I, if not more. I am kind of speechless, to be honest. It takes a village to teach a child and there are a lot of different ways and different approaches and I am just happy to have the opportunity to work with kids."

Brewer, in her 34th year of teaching, was selected as the Middle School Teacher of the Year at the District level.

"It's absolutely amazing," Brewer said of being honored. "What the VFW does for our community and schools is exemplary and it is quite an honor to receive an award from them."

Founded in 1899, the VFW highly supports the education of America's youth. VFW and its Auxiliary have developed a slate of programs dedicated to helping America's educators. VFW Citizenship Education programs stimulate interest in America's history, traditions, Americanism, civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism. VFW wants to identify and recognize America's best educators who instill a sense of national pride in students. It offers cash awards, commemorative plaques and all-expenses-paid trips to the VFW National Convention for these worthy teachers. The trip provides an opportunity for winners to network with like-minded individuals. Teachers care deeply about America and its children. They're concerned about the perpetuation of America's noblest traditions and highest ideals.

Malta Elementary School's Heidi Lulloff, in her 25th year teaching, was awarded the Elementary School Teacher of the Year Award at the District level. Mrs. Lulloff was not present at the assembly at Malta High School last week and will he honored at a later date.

"Their nominations are based on their participation in school activities, community activities and encouragement of patriotism and Americanism," said Kari Hould, Malta VFW Auxiliary information officer."

The program is the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award and Malta educators were recognized and awarded last year through local, District and State Teachers of the Year with the entries of Cindy Christman as the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Shyla Clausen as the Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Ret. Col. Donald Klinko of the Malta VFW, Cheryl (Woody) Wallace, president of Malta VFW Auxiliary and Hould were on hand at Malta High School as the presenters of the awards on Wednesday.

Col. Klinko, a former educator for five years, said he was honored to be in attendance at the ceremony because he knows the contributions they make and the things they have to go through in their chosen profession.

"These teachers are chosen for what they have done at the school level," Col. Klinko said, "but it's also, these teachers try to teach patriotism and good citizenship... both of these teachers have certainly facilitated that."