DeLong Middle School special education teacher honored with Golden Apple award

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - Throughout the month of February, WEAU and the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation have awarded teachers and staff in the ECASD with Golden Apple awards. We wrap up week four with a trip to DeLong Middle School to honor Special Education teacher Jim Ivory, who is in his sixth year teaching 7th grade for the Knights.

Ivory’s colleagues say Mr. Ivory makes unique and meaningful connections with his students every day. They respond to his caring approach and his peers also learn so much from his work as well. Jim says having his students back on a regular basis has been critical for their development.

“Just trying to get back them back into the swing of things, trying to get that school, get back to play school again to more normal. These kids haven’t had regular school since fourth grade and now their in seventh grade so it’s been neat to work with the unique kids that I have in my room and I just love it here. Something different every day, I just enjoy coming in every day and seeing their smiles and getting the hellos and working through the hard things and then succeeding in having those small victories on a regular basis, it’s always great to see,” says Jim Ivory.

DeLong principal Michelle Wiberg echoes Ivory when it comes to having students back in class on a regular basis.

“It’s way better that kids are back on a full-time basis. They’ve been able to make those connections to stay up the speed with their grades and things. But there’s been some challenges for all our staff but especially Jim, he continues to make sure that his kids are where they need to be, makes sure he really cares about them and he’s always looking for how I can make it better for my students,” says Wiberg.

Mr. Ivory and DeLong Middle School will split $1,000 in grant funding from the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation and Jim will receive a beautiful golden apple crystal at the awards banquet on April 14th.

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