Union picks teachers of the year

The Columbia Falls Teachers Union recently announced its 2012-13 teachers of the year. The teachers were chosen by their peers from each of School District 6’s four schools.

This year’s recipients were:

• Amy Sempf, a first-grade teacher at Ruder Elementary. Sempf has taught 14 years in the district and holds degrees in elementary education and early childhood development from Jamestown University in North Dakota.

• Nora Geary has taught 29 years in the district and currently teaches third grade at Glacier Gateway Elementary. Geary has a bachelor’s in elementary education from Carroll College.

• Kim Gange has taught in the district for 17 years and currently teaches English at Columbia Falls. She has a bachelor’s in secondary education from the University of North Dakota and a secondary education certificate from the University of Montana.

• Wes Knutson taught health and physical education for 26 years at Columbia Falls High School and retired this year. Knutson holds a bachelor’s in health professions education from the University of Montana.