GREEN BAY – “I grew up in a loving family, and we had a dairy farm. I had daily chores and responsibilities at a young age, which I believe helped build character and a sense of integrity. Throughout my high school and college years, I worked for various YMCA’s being a lifeguard and swim instructor and my favorite — a summer camp ,” recalled Beaumont Elementary Teacher Dena Scheiwe.
“I graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a sociology degree. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do as far as a job after graduating. I did know that I enjoyed working with people. I took a job at an adult day service for adults with disabilities. I loved it. I enjoyed taking clients out shopping and to various locations in the community.
“After being there for a year, I had an idea that perhaps working with this population, but at a younger age, I could help make a difference in increasing their skills and level of independence. So I decided to go to UW-Oshkosh for my teaching license for special education. I have been at Beaumont Elementary School for 13 of my 14 years in teaching. It has become my dream job because I love my students (present and former) and the joy they bring to the classroom each day. I feel like I am making a positive impact on their lives and helping them become more independent. I am helping them gain new skills and helping them become the best versions of themselves.”
Scheiwe said her classroom comes with “an abundance of fun and joy.”
“My students require lots of repetition in order to learn a single skill, so I need to keep it fun and fresh so that they don’t get bored and to keep them motivated to learn. I am very hands-on in my approach to learning because the kids need to experience something in order to learn it. They need to do it themselves so they can understand it,” she said.
“When I plan lessons, I have to keep in mind the various abilities of each student, their individual goals and what is an appropriate expectation for each student. I also need to be mindful of how each student will be able to access the learning materials due to physical disabilities that some of my students have. I am also mindful of individual students’ work styles and behaviors that may hinder them from being able to complete the assignments and find a way for each student to be successful, however that looks for them.”
Many of Scheiwe’s students stay with her from kindergarten to fifth grade, which allows her to develop a good teacher-student bond with them.
“My classroom is also unique in that I am caring for the whole child. Not only am I providing academic instruction, I am also helping them learn how to communicate, how to interact with others, and do things for themselves. Some of my students are fully dependent on adults to not only move throughout the school environment in their wheelchair, but also take them to the bathroom to change their diaper, connect their feeding tube so they can have lunch at school and change their position throughout the day so they don’t get sore.
“A lot of planning and forethought goes into each day as well as a ton of teacher love.”
Leading up to the 2025 Golden Apple Awards on Wednesday, April 2 at the Oneida Casino Hotel, we will be highlighting the recipients in each edition of the Press Times.
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