PCFES dedicates Hall of Education to Shirley Krogmeier on April 18

Family, friends and staff gathered at Phillips County Family Education Services on April 18 to celebrate the dedication of the Shirley Krogmeier Hall of Education. This honor was given in recognition of Shirley Krogmeier who touched the lives of countless students and families through education.

Linda Jelden, Executive Director of PCFES, summarized the career and achievements of this dedicated educator and expressed gratitude for her significant contributions to the organization. Krogmeier entered the teaching profession with a degree in English, Literature and German from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in German and Education from the University of Minnesota. Her teaching career began in 1956 as an elementary teacher in Amherst and concluded as a GED instructor in Holyoke in 2017. Between her work in Amherst and Holyoke, Shirley literally circled the globe through France, Germany (Rhode Scholar Teacher Exchange), Thailand and numerous schools in Colorado, Minnesota and South Dakota. She taught English, German and geography at several junior and senior high schools, coordinated Title IV ESL/Bilingual grants, developed curriculum and trained ESL teachers overseas and taught evening ESL classes.

Shirley believed the basis of all continuing education throughout life was a high school diploma or a general education diploma. She served as a GED instructor at PCFES from 2007 to 2017. Former colleagues noted that she set the pace of teaching with encouragement and student accountability and she was exceptionally proud of each of her students. In 2015 she received the Employee of the Year Community Excellence Award from the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. Known for her lifelong service to others, she shared her passion for education through her teaching and also with a generous estate gift to PCFES. The philanthropic impact of this gift will last for generations with a partnership with the Eastern Colorado Community Fund. This mission to continue adult education and family literacy support in Phillips County will proudly continue as it has for over 30 years.

Special guests at the dedication included Shirley's siblings, Bill Krogmeier and Dolores Haskell, both of Holyoke. Bill Krogmeier handcrafted the dedication plaque which is now displayed in the PCFES hallway. John Chapdelaine and Brenda Brandt, representing the Eastern Colorado Community Fund, also attended. The community is invited to visit the Phillips County Family Education Services office to view the Hall of Education featuring program highlights and acknowledgement of donors.