Elementary teachers receive special award

Jolin Schimbeck and Gretchen Soderborg, respectively the second grade and sixth grade teachers at Panaca Elementary, were selected to receive the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Teacher of the Year award. Schimbeck was nominated in the first through fifth category and Soderborg was nominated in the sixth through eight category.

On Wednesday, March 25, a small group gathered outside of Panaca Elementary to participate in an award ceremony. Larry Wimsatt, commander of Post 7114 of Nevada’s VFW District 2, had only one request as he awarded Schimbeck and Soderborg their plaques
and checks:

“All I ask is that you use this money for you.”

The teachers knowingly laughed, since many educators have to use their own funds to supply their classrooms. But with the recent COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent closing of schools in Lincoln County, spending money on something besides the classroom could prove much more doable.

The recent spread of the virus was the main cause of the ceremony’s delay, since the decision had been made long before now. It was also the main reason behind why the awards were handed out outside, in front of only a small handful of people, though Wimsatt said they were planning on having a banquet in the teachers’ honor at some point in the future.

The award holds further implications, as both teachers are now being considered for state-level and, possibly, national awards, though nothing will be decided until June of this year (barring any delays).