Barbara & John Heddle Memorial Scholarship for Student Teaching in Special Education

The Barbara & John Heddle Memorial Scholarship for Student Teaching in Special Education is created to give assistance to a promising Special Education student during their special education student teaching semester.

Criteria

1. Recipient must be a senior doing their special education student teaching
2. Recipient must have declared Special Education as their major
3. Recipient must be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time (i.e., minimum of twelve credits per semester) at WSU.
4. Each recipient must have a g.p.a. of 2.75 or better.

Biography/Motivation

Barbara (Broecker) Heddle ‘70/’80 (Winona, MN) passed away on December 21, 2006. Barbara was born in Santa Monica, California. She spent her early years in Winona until she and her parents moved to St. Mary’s Point, Minnesota, when she was 9 years old. She graduated from Stillwater High School in 1966. Barb enrolled in Winona State College as an elementary education major in the fall of 1966. She met her future husband, John Heddle, during the tumultuous campaign of 1968. (She and John were supporting different candidates!) Barb graduated in the spring of 1970, and she and John were married August 1 of that year. Three years after they married, Barb contracted juvenile diabetes, and she and John began a 33-year war with this terrible disease – a war that they lost. In the fall of 1970, Barb began her teaching career in Houston, Minnesota, where she taught for two years. Then she and John moved to Coos Bay, Oregon, where Barb taught special education at Charleston Elementary School. After three years of wintertime drizzle and rain on the Oregon coast, the Heddles moved to Spokane, Washington, where Barb taught special education at Willard School, while John pursued his master’s degree. In 1978 they returned to Winona, where John worked as a sales representative and Barb earned her master’s degree in special education. After graduating, Barb was hired by the Hiawatha Valley Special Education Co-operative, where she worked as a lead teacher. She also taught in the Special Education Department for two years at Winona State University. After working for the education co-operative, Barb transferred to Winona Senior High School, where she taught special education until she retired for health reasons. Throughout her career, Barb was a tireless advocate for “her” kids. Some of her kids had never had a stable relationship with an adult until they met Barb. With her, they knew they had someone who would take an interest in them and stand up for them. Barb loved spending time on the river, with friends and family, or reading.
A new scholarship for student teachers has been initiated in the Special Education Department honoring Barbara (Broecker) Heddle ‘70/’80. Barb was an elementary education major at Winona State College, 1966-1970. She taught in Houston, Minnesota; Coos Bay, Oregon; Spokane, Washington and at Winona Senior High School. In 1980 she earned her masters degree in special education from Winona State University. After completing her degree Barb was a lead teacher for the Hiawatha Valley Special Education Co-operative. She also taught in the Special Education Department at Winona State University for two years. She died on December 21, 2006 from complications related to juvenile diabetes. Barb was an outstanding special educator. Her knowledge, professionalism, and kindness were highly valued and appreciated by her colleagues and students. The purpose of this scholarship is to continue to provide support to future special educators whom we hope will carry on some of her good work. Jeanne Danneker, Benefactor