PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education celebrated the professional excellence of two area teachers at the fifth annual Recog-nition of Outstand-ing Early Career Educators and Pre-Service Educator Mentors awards ceremony in Madison April 14. Kim Zielinski, a native of Browntown and Black Hawk High School graduate who is now a first/second multi-age teacher at Westview Elementary School in Platteville, was recognized for her work mentoring pre-service teachers. Zielinski has worked with student teachers for about 10 years, according to a university news article. She was nominated by Dr. Rea Kirk, professor of special education at UW-Platteville.

Jason Rutkowski, a fifth-grade teacher at Fennimore Elementary School, was also recognized.