Scavo Teacher Named Alternative Educator of the Year

Scavo teacher Randy Botkin has been named Educator of the Year by the Iowa Association of Alternative Education.

Congratulations are in order for Randy Botkin of Scavo High School, the 2015 Iowa Association of Alternative Education (IAAE) Educator of the Year.

Randy has worked in the Des Moines Public Schools for 22 years, all of them in an alternative school setting.

“I had the pleasure to work alongside Randy as a teacher at Scavo from 2000-2003,”said Scavo principal Rich Blonigan in nominating Botkin for the award, “and now again as principal. During my time as a colleague Randy has exemplified what it means to be a teacher in an alternative setting. Randy has great rapport with students and families. He has the ability to connect with his students and motivate them to do their best.”

Botkin received the award at the IAAE’s annual conference last week in Davenport.

The Educator of the Year is presented annually to the alternative educator who is making a significant contribution to alternative education in Iowa. This award honors one individual each year who is making an outstanding contribution to his/her students, school and community. Any alternative education teacher, supervisor, administrator, or counselor may be nominated.

Botkin earned his B.A. in 1990 from Grand View College, and graduated from Iowa State University in 2000 with an M.E. in Curriculum and Instruction.

Botkin’s award comes on the heels of last year’s induction of longtime Scavo teacher Steve Peters into the IAAE Hall of Fame and adds to the recognition for excellence in the field of alternative education that has become the standard at Scavo.

This latest honor for a Scavo educator also comes at a time when the school is seeing many positive changes, from an increase in its graduation rate to a new home at Central Campus to the development of many community partnership and services to meet student needs.