Jeanne Stafford

GLADSTONE — The Beta Sigma Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) Society International presented Jeanne Stafford, of Gladstone, with the Woman of Achievement Award. This award is given to members who have made outstanding contributions to their chapter. The Professional Growth and Services Committee Members presented this award to Stafford at its outdoor meeting held on Sept. 12, at the West Shore Fishing Museum Pavilion in Menominee.

DKG is an honorary international organization of woman educators that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. The Beta Sigma Chapter includes members from Dickinson, Delta, Menominee, and neighboring the Wisconsin counties of Marinette, Oconto, and Florence.

Stafford was first initiated into Delta Kappa Gamma Beta Sigma in the spring of 1988. She has proven to be an invaluable active member of Beta Sigma and she is a key member from our Escanaba/Gladstone area. She has a very high level of dedication, energy, intelligence and exemplary communication skills, and is a very positive promoter of Delta Kappa Gamma and all of its members. As chair of the scholarship committee, she leads the scholarship selection process for the Escanaba/Gladstone area and works to make that process successful. She also has been the chair of the Hostess Committee for many years. She makes sure everyone in her area has a ride to DKG meetings, and she is often the one picking members up and driving them. She was also honored as Beta Sigma Chapter’s Woman of Distinction in 2006.

Stafford grew up in Chatham. After high school, she attended Lake Superior State University for two years, where she was a member of Lambda Sigma Beta Honor Society. She went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Michigan State University graduating Summa Cum Laude and a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She published poetry and stories from 1970-1972 and received the Lake Superior State University Woman’s Club Service Award in 1972. She attended Northern Michigan University for graduate classes and became a certified dyslexic trainer.

She began her teaching career by substitute teaching in grades K-12 in the districts of Munising, Escanaba, Gladstone, Rapid River, and Superior Central (Eben). She then taught for one year at Ann J. Kellogg School in Battle Creek, Mich. She then went on in her career to teach for 28 years at Mid-Peninsula School. She taught in grades 2-6 and was also a Title 1 teacher and director. She retired from Mid-Peninsula School in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in June, 2006, after 31 years of teaching.

Stafford is not only active in DKG. She has been a Girl Scout leader, a summer Bible school teacher, summer school teacher, volunteer tutor, and has been the volunteer organizer of school fairs, game nights and Parent Education for Dyslexic Training. She worked to host eight Escanaba Area Figure Skating shows and testing sessions. She volunteered at Mid-Peninsula for four years.

On a personal level, she loves to read, bake, cook, and garden flowers and vegetables. She also enjoys BMW motorcycle and bicycle riding.

Jeanne Stafford is married to Richard (Dick) Stafford, and they have been married for 45 years. They have a daughter, Patricia (Trisha), who works in marketing and advertisement for a large firm in Venice, Fla. She resides in Sarasota, Fla. with her husband, Adam. Jeanne and Dick spend at least four months of the year in Florida living near them.