Cyndy Behrer Leadership Scholarship
Cyndy Behrer, long-time Pleasant Valley counselor and administrator, is a Midwestern product born and raised, growing up in Illinois, and receiving educational degrees from various institutions in both Wisconsin and Iowa. Cyndy began her career in education as a 6th grade teacher and high school girls’ volleyball and basketball coach. After several years in that position, Cyndy returned to school and obtained a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Iowa. She then began her guidance career first as a middle school counselor at Mt. Vernon Middle School before joining the Pleasant Valley School District in 1981 as an elementary counselor traveling between Bridgeview and Cody Elementary Schools. In 1997, after completing a specialist’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Drake University, Cyndy was named elementary principal of Cody Elementary School where she served until the fall of 2003. At that time, she assumed the role of assistant superintendent in Pleasant Valley retiring from that position in June of 2010 after serving a total of 34 years in education.
Cyndy is proud of her years in education and, specifically, her 29-year tenure serving the students and families of PV. As the oldest daughter of a small town minister and a Migrant nurse, Cyndy learned three lessons very early in life:
- The value of a good education.
- The importance of hard work and doing one’s best.
- The magnitude and worth of serving others.
It is those lessons she would most like to have endure through the awarding of this scholarship and for the students who are its torchbearers:
- Continue to learn
- Work hard
- Serve others
Criteria to Apply:
- Be a graduating senior of PVHS
- Have completed the majority of his/her K-12 education in the Pleasant Valley School District
- Provide an evidenced-based commitment to the following characteristics: scholarship, leadership, character and service
- Demonstrate hard work, passion, and the pursuit of excellence both inside and outside the classroom.
Scholarship Personal Statement/Essay:
- In less than 250 words (1700 characters), please tell us why you've chosen your field of study.
- In less than 250 words (1700 characters), please tell us what your plans are after your post-secondary education is complete.
- In less than 250 words (1700 characters), please tell us about one of the following: your ability to problem solve, work with others, and/or your dedication to the community.
- In less than 250 words (1700 characters), please tell us how you've overcome an obstacle.
- In less than 250 words (1700 characters), please tell us anything else about yourself you think the selection committee would like to know.
- Provide one (or more) real life example(s) describing how your hard work, passion and/or commitment to excellence have contributed to your personal development (specifically as it relates to the characteristics of scholarship, leadership, character or service).