From Deseret News archives:

Betsy Swynenburg, Dugway High, Tooele District

Published: Monday, Oct. 23, 2006 3:39 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
TOOELE — After 18 years in the classroom, Betsy Swynenburg, Tooele District Teacher of the Year, is headed for administration. She had spent nearly two decades at Dugway High School coaching and teaching science, and this fall she is an administrative intern at Grantsville High.

"I love the kids, and I think in working with kids, you never grow old," she said. "They never fail to entertain you or impress you in some way."

Michael Spendlove, a fellow educator at Dugway, said one of Swynenburg's strengths that set her apart was her ability to make students recognize that they are the most important part of the school — that the students are a community of learners, not just in her class but in their school experience as a whole.

Spendlove said she could relate to all of the students, because she engaged in the student activities herself.

If she wasn't coaching volleyball, girls basketball, cross country and track during her years at Dugway she was running the clock, keeping stats, scheduling buses, taking money at the gate or scheduling officials, Spendlove said.

She also helped with proms, graduations, back-to-school nights, Sterling Scholars, homecoming events and band concerts.

"One would be hard-pressed to attend any DHS function and not find Betsy working openly or behind the scene in some fashion," Spendlove said.

Story continues below
When Swynenburg left Dugway last spring, some students spent a few days trying to convince her to stay.

"I can think of no better sign of respect or admiration toward a mentor of children," Spendlove said.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

Betsy Swynenburg

previousnext

Latest comments

I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...

Cougs begin bowl preparations

None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...

Max Hall issues apology

Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...

Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...

U. eyes bowl for redemption

How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...

Max Hall issues apology

90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...

This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.

Y. student vanished in China

Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...

Child prostitutes don't get help

Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...

Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...

Advertisements