Lawrence
Today magazine, Fall 2006
Hortonville High School biologist Jackie Dorow and Karen Brownell, a mathematics
teacher at Pittsville High School, were presented with Lawrence’s Outstanding
Teaching in Wisconsin Award during Commencement.
Established in 1985, the award recognizes exemplary Wisconsin secondary-school
teachers. Recipients are nominated by Lawrence seniors who had been their students.
Teaches the language of biology
A native of Greenville and a graduate of Hortonville High School, Dorow joined
the faculty of her alma mater in 1974. During her 32-year career, she has taught
general biology, honors biology, botany, and zoology as well as anatomy and
physiology; served as chair of the biology department; and led Hortonville’s
North Central Accreditation School Improvement Committee.
In nominating Dorow for the award, Angie Geiger, a 2002 Hortonville graduate,
praised her former teacher for her enthusiastic and nurturing style in the
classroom.
“Ms. Dorow’s classes were nothing short of a challenge. The assignments,
projects, and presentations demanded that we put forth the effort to become
fluent in the language of biology.
Ms. Dorow is a teacher any Lawrence student would adore and any colleague would
admire. She changed my life and helped me discover my destiny as a biologist.”
Recognized as Hortonville’s Teacher of the Year in 1989, Dorow is a member
of the National Science Teachers Association, the National Association of Biology
Teachers, and the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers. She earned her bachelor’s
degree at UW-Oshkosh in biology and her master’s degree in education
at Aurora University.
Coaches math, volleyball, and track
Brownell also returned to teach at her own former high school. Since joining
the Pittsville High School faculty in 1976, she has taught virtually every
mathematics course, including algebra, geometry, and calculus. She also has
served as the coach of the school’s math team, and under her direction,
Pittsville has been a consistent top-five finisher in the annual Central Wisconsin
Math League Competition, including a string of nine consecutive first-place
finishes in the 1980s and ’90s.
Lawrence senior Amalia Wegner, a 2002 Pittsville graduate, who nominated her
former teacher, cited Brownell’s unflinching determination among the
reasons why she was a special teacher.
“Ms. Brownell has never given up on a student. She believes in every
one of her students. In turn, her students try their best because they know
someone
is trying to help them succeed. When no one else is there to help, Ms. Brownell
is there. She is a great teacher who goes above and beyond her duty for her
students.”
Outside the classroom, Brownell has coached the girls’ volleyball team
for 28 years, winning eight conference titles and making four trips to the
state tournament, including second-place finishes in 1986 and 1995. She also
has served as Pittsville’s track coach for the past 17 years. A member
of the National Education Association, Brownell earned a bachelor’s degree
in mathematics from UW-Stevens Point.