Columbia Falls names top teachers

Five educators were chosen Teachers of the Year recently by their peers in the Columbia Falls School District.

The Columbia Falls teachers union announced the five recipients of this year’s award during its end-of-the-year celebration at Meadow Lake Resort.

The award winners — one from each Columbia Falls school — were chosen by their fellow teachers in each building.

n E.J. Hoerner, who retired at the end of the school year, was chosen at Columbia Falls High School.

Hoerner taught for 28 years in the district, the last 12 as an English teacher at the high school and at Eagle School, the now-closed alternative high school. She earned her bachelor’s degree in broad-field English from Montana State University-Northern.

n Tom Berquist was the award winner from Columbia Falls Junior High School. He has 23 years of teaching experience and is a junior high science teacher. Berquist has a bachelor’s degree in forest management from the University of Montana and a master’s in education from Washington State University.

n Doris Guidi was selected at Ruder Elementary. She has taught third grade in the district for 23 years and has 29 years total experience in education.

Guidi, who retired at the end of the school year, has a Bachelor of Science degree from Montana State.

n Vicki Padgett was named top teacher at Glacier Gateway Elementary, where she teaches second grade. She has been a teacher for 29 years. Padgett earned bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and special education with a reading endorsement from Montana State University-Billings.

n Diane Volkman was chosen at Canyon Elementary. She has taught for six years and currently teaches music and library.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Great Falls and has national certification from the Music Teachers National Association.