Moritz receives LEA Teacher of the Year honor
Sometimes celebrities are referenced by only their first or last name out of respect for their talents.
In the case of Luverne Education Association’s newest Teacher of the Year, he, too, is often called by a single name.
Dennis Moritz — or “Moritz” to students, parents and staff — was named the 2019 LEA Teacher of the Year in a Monday afternoon ceremony in the elementary school commons.
Deb Ward, the 2018 LEA Teacher of the Year, announced this year’s selection by reading comments from nomination letters submitted by colleagues.
“This person displays a patient and accepting demeanor, which helps students achieve to their highest potential,” Ward read.
“This person helps students build confidence in themselves even though they may struggle in their tougher academic classes and feel that school is not ‘their thing.’”
In his 26 years in Luverne Middle-High School, Moritz instructs eighth- through twelfth-grade ag classes at Luverne and serves as adviser for the Luverne-Adrian FFA chapter.
“You kind of learn as you go with this job,” he said.
Moritz grew up on a farm outside the small community of Humboldt, Nebraska, graduating from Southeast Nebraska Consolidated High School in Stella, Nebraska, in 1974. The school closed in 2009.
For nine years, Moritz worked for several local Humboldt farmers and operated a small firewood business.
In 1983 the financial hardship from the agricultural crisis prompted Moritz to go back to school.
“I knew if I wanted to stay in agriculture I had to go back to school,” he said.
He attended Southeast Community College, a two-year vocational/technical institute, to study general ag.
There he completed a plethora of hands-on classes which ultimately prepared Moritz for ag education, a career area suggested by one of his college instructors.
“I would never have given it (teaching) a thought until something was said,” he admitted.
That teacher, Barry Masin, inspired Moritz to complete a four-year ag education degree from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
His first three years in his new career were spent at the high school in Pender, Nebraska, until a blind date set up by friends brought Moritz closer to southwest Minnesota.
He married his wife, Deb, in 1993, and the couple moved to the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, area, where she resided.
For a year he was a substitute teacher in southeast South Dakota and worked at Menards in Sioux Falls until the next school year began.
In the fall of 1994, Moritz was hired to teach at LHS.
The couple makes their home in Beaver Creek.
At LHS for the past 26 years, Moritz has passed on what he has learned to his own students.
Staff members noticed these attributes in their nomination letters.
“… encourages all students no matter what their strengths and weaknesses are.
“… understands that not all students will be academic rock stars and finds ways to help them discover and develop their talents and skills.
“… goes the extra mile to provide opportunities for students to excel in many areas.”
When not in the classroom, Moritz delves into the restoration and operation of antique tractors and farm equipment. He often participates at area pioneer village and threshing bee demonstrations.
“Antique farm machinery is my gig,” he said.
Dinger chosen as 2019 Friend of Education
Lisa Dinger, the 2019 Friend of Education recipient, is quick to say her team members at Luverne Elementary and the local community are the real friends of education.
Each year during American Education Week (Nov. 18-23) the Luverne Education Association recognizes one teacher and one community member for their dedication and positive impact on the students in the school district.
For the past 19 years, Dinger has served in the Luverne Elementary School as a child guide, the connector between students and families to the many developmental assets needed for positive youth development.
“I listen to what the needs are and try to meet them,” she said.
She admits there is a fine line between helping youth and their families and maintaining dignity for students and adults who are helped.
Comments on Dinger’s nomination form recognize her compassion for children and tirelessness in connecting families to what is needed to meet their needs.
“Lisa works with so many people to provide student opportunities to be successful,” read one comment.
“Lisa has come to the rescue when a student needs something, whether it is material or emotional. She time and time again has helped connect kids with activities that normally wouldn’t be an option for them due to financial hardship.”
For Dinger, coming to work each day often finds a new challenge waiting for a solution.
“I absolutely love what I am doing,” Dinger said. “People who know me know I am a very direct person, but it is because I really care and someone has to say the hard stuff.”
Her passion and drive comes from her own experiences growing up in Wisconsin and spending her high school years in Waconia.
She found exceptional life mentors in her teachers and coaches in the local school system.
“I’ve known since I was in junior high that I wanted to be involved in education,” Dinger said.
A volleyball scholarship brought Dinger to South Dakota State University in Brookings. She left with a double major in coaching and athletic training.
She spent seven years after her 1986 SDSU graduation teaching in Redfield, South Dakota, where she met her husband, Don.
The couple moved to Luverne in 1994 and until 2001 Dinger was a stay-at-home mom for their four children.
She has been the only full-time child guide at Luverne Elementary since the program started during the 2000-01 school year.
“It’s been a great fit in our school system and great support for the community,” Dinger said.
The child guide program began in several schools in southwestern Minnesota through the Southwest Initiative Foundation, and the local program continues to be financially independent from the school district.
Luverne and Willmar are the only local schools that still have active child guide programs.
“Education is so different,” Dinger said, reflecting on her 30 years in education. “In school now, we take care of the whole child.”
Teachers take the lead with academics and contact Dinger and her support staff to help with the basic, social and mental needs of potential at-risk children and their families.
Success of the local child guide program can be attributed to Dinger’s active participation in community organizations.
Early in her child guide position, Dinger set out to learn what each existing organization could do to help children and families become integrated members of the community.
She serves on 10 local organizational boards including Big Buddies, the Optimists and Rock Ranch.
Dinger works with all 580 students in kindergarten through grade 5 with more emphasis on pre- and at-risk students and families.
One third of the students in the elementary school are referred to the child guide program each year with 80 percent being actively involved in activities.
“We try to remove all the barriers so all children can experience everything all the other children in the school have access to,” she said.
Outside of the job, Dinger enjoys jogging, reading books, traveling, spending time with her family (which now includes five grandchildren with another one on the way) and horseback riding.