Maumee Teachers Named Golden Apple Award Recipients
BY KAREN BERGER— MIRROR REPORTER
With combined teaching experience of more than 90 years and unwavering dedication to their profession, Pat Yurysta, Ray Hafemann and Don Klever are recipients of this year’s Golden Apple Award.
The three educators will be honored at the Hometown Hero awards banquet on March 11.
Yurysta, a fifth-grade teacher at Wayne Trail Elementary with 30 years of experience, is credited for being a great role model to her students and a mentor to her colleagues.
In her nomination letter, fellow teacher Jennifer Baker cited Yurysta’s continued dedication to teaching.
“She is driven to expect the most from her students and she models this by always performing and giving 100 percent of herself at all times,” Baker wrote.
For Yurysta, a career in teaching has meant doing what she enjoys.
“Being a teacher means I have been in a career doing what I love to do – work with children. It has been very satisfying to help them become independent learners, reach for their potential, and foster a desire to continually seek knowledge,” she said.
Hafemann, a Spanish teacher at Maumee High School, is the department chair and senior member of the foreign language department.
According to fellow teacher Allison Mackin, who nominated Hafe-mann, he is an exceptional role model for his students.
“Students view Ray as a person whose principles and values dictate his actions and words; they consequently respect his rules because they realize that he has the same expectations of himself,” she wrote.
Hafemann has always considered teaching his calling.
“That’s what’s kept me going for 31 years in the classroom. It’s an opportunity to share my passion for languages with my students and sometimes really get to see them blossom and develop an interest beyond the classroom,” Hafemann said.
Klever, a Maumee High School English teacher with 30 years of service, said he has gotten much in return from his students.
“Teaching has permitted me to remain engaged with our most precious resource, our children,” he said.
“Although a burden at times because of the inherent responsibility, teaching has given me the opportunity to meet wonderful people, affect lives even I will only partially realize and remain metaphorically young because of the generous acceptance my students have awarded me,” he said.
Heather Dansack, who nominated Klever, said he is a talented educator who will be greatly missed when he retires at the end of the school year.
“Educating today’s youth in a way that inspires them to become true scholars is a talent few possess. When Don Klever retires at the close of the academic year, Maumee High School will lose not only one of its most effective and popular teachers, but a true educator as well,” she wrote.
While the recipients expressed appreciation for the award, they say teaching is not about garnering trophies but doing what they love.
“I can safely say that most teachers do not seek recognition, but most certainly all teachers savor even a thank you when it comes their way,” Klever said.

Jump Start Your Day
If you feel like you’re in a rut, celebrate “Jump-Start Day” by doing something that moves you one step closer to your objective on Sunday, March 14, advises author Nancy Christie. On March 14, daylight saving time begins and we “lose” an hour. Christie said we should use the 60-minute jump as a reminder of time’s fleeting nature and how critical it is to use every minute productively. “All too often we fall into the rut of thinking that we have unlimited time to do that which is important to us: to pursue a dream, to connect with loved ones, to make a difference in this troubled world of ours,” Christie said. A life-changing event or loss often leads to a wake-up call, she said. “We are motivated – albeit perhaps only temporarily – to do something, to change how we use the hours allotted to us, to finally stop talking and wishing and hoping and start doing,” she said. Unfortunately, without self-discipline and commitment, it doesn’t take long for people to lose their motivation and fall right back into the same non-productive rut they were in to begin with, she added. “That’s why I created Jump-Start Day,” she explained. “It’s the day to get a jump-start on your plans and goals, to do something that moves you one step farther toward your objective, one step further out of the rut you put yourself in.” So how should you celebrate Jump-Start Day? Christie recommended choosing one of your New Year’s resolutions and engaging in one task required for its success. “What do you need to do: make a call, make a list, make a connection? Start a new routine or stop the old one? Make a plan instead of making excuses?” she asked. “Use your time; don’t waste it. Make every minute count.” Christie is the author of the Make a Change blog at communityofchange.blogspot.com.

Change Smoke Detector Batteries
Interim State Fire Marshal Donald Cooper reminds Ohioans to make a potentially lifesaving change when they move their clocks forward on Sunday, March 14 – change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Fire safety officials encourage Ohioans to make it a habit to change the batteries in their smoke detectors at least twice a year – at the beginning and end of daylight saving time. “The facts speak clearly – only a working smoke detector can save your life,” Cooper said. “By taking the time to change the batteries and by testing them monthly, you are doing more to affect the fire safety of your family and home than any other action you could take.” Cooper said firefighters still find that smoke detectors, which typically retail for less than $10.00, are often not present in homes or are not functional. Through March 8, 2010, 34 people have died in 28 fatal residential fires reported to the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal. Smoke detectors were confirmed present in eight (29 percent) of those fires and functioning in only three (11 percent) of the incidents. Smoke detectors, when properly installed and maintained, provide early warning when fire occurs. For the greatest protection, the fire marshal recommends installing a smoke detector on every level of your home and inside each sleeping area.
Other safety recommendations include:
• Develop an escape plan and make sure every family member knows what to do if the fire alarm does sound.
• Test smoke detectors at least once each month to ensure that they are working properly.
• Vacuum the dust from inside the detector at least once every year.
• Change batteries twice a year or whenever a detector “chirps” to signal low battery power. Never “borrow” a smoke detector’s battery for another use.
• Replace smoke detectors every 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s specifications.