IOWA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
For release: March 31, 2008
Contact: Lana Oppenheim Schlapkohl, 515-471-8026 or LOppenheim@isea.org

Lifelong educator to be honored for championing youth

Floyd Winter, a long-time Cedar Falls educator, has been selected to receive the Paul Mann Memorial Human Relations Award presented by the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA). He will be honored on Thursday, April 3, before a group of 500 educators attending the ISEA's annual meeting at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

After retiring in 1999 from a long and distinguished career, Winter continues to work to improve opportunities and conditions for children. He is currently the executive community coordinator for Cedar Valley's Promise, a youth initiative that is an offshoot of Colin Powell's America's Promise. It is designed to ensure that at-risk children experience all the fundamental resources they need in order to succeed. In his role, Winter oversees 14 task teams in areas such as early childhood, after-school programs, and substance abuse prevention just to mention a few. 

"Floyd worked in the field of education for more than 40 years so he could be spending his retirement taking fishing trips or spending his afternoons on the links," ISEA President Linda Nelson said. "But he is one of those rare individuals who has dedicated his life to helping our youth. We are pleased to be able to recognize Floyd's many achievements."

Winter is involved in a variety of volunteer activities to provide better educational opportunities for children. At the state level, he has served on the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and the Governor's Advisory Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Winter is currently the Early Childhood Education and Care Chair for the Iowa State Empowerment Board.

Winter began his career as a high school social studies teacher and coach in 1958. In 1968, he became principal at Washington High School in Vinton before moving to Cedar Falls in 1973 to serve as the high school principal. From 1978 until his retirement in 1999, Floyd served as director of secondary education. He was nominated for the award by the Cedar Falls Education Association.

The Paul Mann Memorial Human Relations Award honors an individual or group for exemplary contributions toward the advancement of human and civil rights. It is named in memory of Paul Mann, veteran Des Moines teacher and human rights activist who passed away suddenly in September of 2006.

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The ISEA is a professional organization made up of nearly 33,000  educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students.  Great Education.  It's an Iowa Basic!