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October 7, 2008

West teacher wins second award

Bob Ihrig, a social studies teacher, is the new Mankato Teachers Association's Teacher of the Year

By Tanner Kent

MANKATO — Mankato West teacher Bob Ihrig is called a lot of things — but, in this case, all of them are printable.

Those who negotiate union contracts with Ihrig call him fair and respectful. Those who serve alongside him on numerous school and district committees call him an advocate and a spokesman.

Colleagues call him a leader and innovator. Students call him a role model.

And now everyone can call him the Mankato Teachers Association’s 2008 Teacher of the Year.

“The whole time I’ve been in this district, he’s been a leader” said Kathleen Schultz, the 22-year teacher who nominated Ihrig. “If anybody could represent Mankato for the state competition, it’s him.”

As this year’s nominee from the Mankato Area School District, Ihrig will now move on to the statewide Teacher of the Year competition, which is sponsored by the state teachers union, Education Minnesota.

Ihrig also represented Mankato in 1984 when he won his first Teacher of the Year Award. As Mankato’s only two-time winner, Ihrig will now try to become the second Mankato teacher to win the state award. (Dakota Meadows English teacher Beth Christensen won in 1996.)

“Throughout his career, (Ihrig) has been totally immersed in the school district,” said John Barnett, principal at West for 24 years before retiring four years ago.

“I have the highest regard for him.”

Ihrig has taught social studies at Mankato West for 34 years and has chaired his department for more than two decades. As a debate coach until 1999, Ihrig’s teams competed at the state and national levels and he remains highly involved in the state’s speech competition.

Ihrig has also worked as a union negotiator and local union representative and has served on several district committees, including the curriculum committee.

But the classroom, Ihrig said, is what motivates him to walk through the schoolhouse doors each morning.

“I come back every day because there’s always something new,” he said. “There’s never a day of boredom.”

Former winners of the Mankato Teacher of the Year Award include Congressman Tim Walz in 2002 and current Bridges Elementary lead teacher Robin Courrier in 1997. Each year, the Mankato Teachers Association chooses three nominees with union representatives at each school voting on the final winner. The award is given in alternate years to secondary and elementary teachers.

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