For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: November 5, 2020
Pluemer marks 30-year milestone at Southwest Tech
Fennimore -This year, John Pluemer, lead math/science instructor; Pete Esser, math instructor; and Paul Cutting, agribusiness instructor, are all celebrating 30 years at Southwest Tech. They have led hundreds of students through their educational journeys and they have no intentions of slowing down.
“The dedication of Pete, Paul and John to Southwest Tech over the last 30 years has been remarkable,” said Jason Wood, Southwest Tech president. “I am grateful for their passion for educating our students. Generations of graduates have been guided to success because of their work.”
Note: Pete and Paul will be featured in subsequent posts.
John Pluemer
What was your hire date at Southwest Tech? What led you to Southwest Tech?
I started in August of 1990. I had just completed my Masters in Science Education from UW-Platteville after working for a commercial lab in Madison for a couple of years.
John Pluemer
What was your original position on campus and what is your current position?
Pete (Esser) and I were hired under a Title III grant (federal grant for strengthening institutions). Our part of the grant was to strengthen math and science instruction and curriculum utilizing new technology, alternative delivery methods, the creation of a math/science tutorial center, and the establishment of a math/science department as part of the a larger General Education Department. I worked in the Learning Center and taught various general education courses for about 23 years when I transitioned out of the learning center and became full time in the classroom.
What do you enjoy about your current role?
My favorite part of my job continues to be my interactions with my students. I enjoy getting to know a new group of students each year and watching them develop very impressive skills.
What are some of your favorite memories during the past 30 years? Why have you remained at Southwest Tech for 30 years?
The best part of the job has been the people with whom I have had the privilege to work. The faculty and staff have always gone above and beyond for the students and each other. I never cease to be amazed by the breadth of knowledge and skill possessed by the faculty at Southwest Tech and their ability and willingness to share it with others.
Why is higher education important to you?
I enjoy partnering with adult students and in many cases helping them to see education differently; not as something that is done to them but as something valuable that they are doing for themselves. Higher education, especially at Southwest Tech, represents a tremendous opportunity for students to dramatically change their lives for the better. I am proud to be a part of that effort.
What does the next 30 years look like for you?
I’m not sure what the next 30 years will bring. I am interested to see the long term effect on our educational institutions of this year’s large scale shift to virtual instruction. I’m hoping it will renew the value of the personal connections that make education so powerful.