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Altoona Area SD honors educators with Loretta Woodson awards and recognizes longtime board member
Summary
Board welcomed Blair County representatives to present Loretta Woodson awards to two Altoona Area School District recipients, honored retiring board member Dave Francis for three decades of service, and acknowledged the recent passing of educator and official Ted Beam.
The Altoona Area School District board paused regular business Tuesday to accept the Loretta Woodson awards presented by the Blair County chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees.
Donna Messner, president of the Blair County chapter, and other chapter representatives introduced the award and its history. Bill Neugebauer described Loretta Woodson’s trust and the statewide program that produces a framed certificate and a pin for recipients.
This year both award recipients were from the Altoona Area School District. Lynn Ruggles was recognized as the professional educator honoree for her work at Jefferson Learning/Express Preschool; she received a framed certificate and was encouraged to join the retirees’ chapter when she retires. A second recipient, a support-staff honoree, was unable to attend because of medical issues; presenters asked district representatives to deliver the award and flowers to the honoree’s family.
The board also held an off-agenda recognition for Dave Francis, who the board thanked for roughly 30 years of volunteer service to the district. The board described Francis as a longtime advocate for education within the district; Francis accepted thanks and responded with remarks about the board, staff, and community.
Separately, the board formally acknowledged the passing of Ted Beam (born March 24, 1952; died September 25, 2025). Speaker 1 recounted Beam’s service as an English teacher at Keith Junior High and Stevens Alternative School, his work as a city councilman and county commissioner, and his long career as a PIAA official. The board offered condolences to Beam’s wife, Carol, and to his family.
