By Pam Reinig
Register Editor
Central science teacher Ann Gritzner was caught off guard last Friday afternoon when High School Principal Noah Reinhart knocked on her door during her last class of the day and asked if he could come in for a minute.
She was even more surprised when Reinhart entered her room with an entourage of parents, former students, a colleague or two, school board members and several photographers, camera men and reporters.
The reason for the interruption was to inform Gritzner that she had been selected as the 2019 Northeast Iowa STEM Teacher of the Year. The honor recognizes educators who take extraordinary steps to enhance their students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Only six Iowa teachers, one per region, receive the honor.
Speechless when the presentation began, Gritzner eventually found her voice and in characteristic style deflected the attention from her to others in the room.