Rice Lake board honors teacher Cindy Worth, names Laurie Saarbach citizen of the year; students recognized

Cindy Worth, an eighth-grade science and social studies teacher at Rice Lake Middle School, received the Rice Lake Chamber of Commerce Innovation and Education Award during the Rice Lake Area School District board meeting Nov. 10.

"I am deeply honored, humbled, and excited to stand before you as the recipient of the innovative educator of the year award," Worth said, citing nearly 29 years of teaching and her leadership of an annual eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C. She named colleagues and administrators who support the trip, including "my principal, Mr. Josh Tomish, and my assistant principal, Mrs. Lori Leaf." Worth described the trip as a formative experience for many students.

The board also announced Laurie Saarbach as the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year. A nominator praised Saarbach for her long record of community service, including work as director of the Barron County Boys & Girls Club and her role on the Rice Lake Area School District School Board. Saarbach thanked the community and said her service is driven by a desire to make the community better for children and families.

Board members additionally listed other Chamber awards from the same event — Business of the Year (Bridal Therapeutic Services), Rising Star (Jody Bunnell) and Century Award (Fred Thomas Resort) — and Rice Lake High School faculty presented first-term outstanding-student recognitions across academic and activity areas. Principal or faculty representatives read names of students honored in art, health, business education, family consumer science, language arts, mathematics, music, physical education, science, social studies, world language, agriculture and technology education.

The recognitions were part of a broader board agenda that also included committee updates, policy information and a procedural vote to go into closed session later in the evening.