Messenger staff writer
Kari Mahler is the new education coordinator and advisor at Buena Vista University Fort Dodge.
Mahler, who began at the start of April, works with students in the university's education programs, training the teachers of tomorrow. As part of her duties, Mahler evaluates transcripts for new education students coming to the university's Fort Dodge campus and also coordinates meetings for student teachers and for their cooperating teachers for when they do student teaching.
"I also do schedules for all of our education students, and when they get ready to go do their field experiences, I conduct those meetings for them as well," she said.
Mahler, a Sac City native, is a Buena Vista alumni, having graduated from its Storm Lake campus. After graduating with an elementary education degree, Mahler taught in Palm Springs, Calif., for four years at the middle school level before moving part to Iowa. In Iowa, she taught second grade in Fairfield Community Schools for six years.
Mahler has a master's degree in education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz., and is starting her doctorate from Walden University, Minn., in curriculum instruction and assessment.
Lois Irwin, Fort Dodge Buena Vista director, said Mahler is a welcome addition to the university.
"Kari comes to us with good experience from a K-12 system, so she has a good understanding of the practical application of theory to be taught in education classes," she said. "We're glad to have her enthusiasm."
Irwin said the addition is part of the university's continuing growth and expansion, particularly in the elementary education school.
"The elementary program has been revised so all elementary education students will graduate with a reading endorsement, which is one of the first in Iowa universities to do that," she said.
Already, Mahler said she enjoys her new role.
"I really enjoy working here at Buena Vista," she said. "This is a good college. They treat their employees very well, and their students."
Contact Brandon L. Summers at (515) 573-2141 or bsummers@messengernews.net