Montezuma teacher inducted into Hall of Fame

MONTEZUMA — Liesl Roorda, a longtime teacher and speech and drama coach in Montezuma, has been inducted into the Iowa High School Speech Association Hall of Fame.

Roorda was one of two inductees during a ceremony earlier this month. Also inducted was Dirk Waller, a friend and colleague of Roorda’s and a coach from the Council Bluffs area.

The induction took place at the Gateway Center in Ames Friday, Oct. 11.

“I'm so very thankful for the students I've had the opportunity to work with, along with the fellow coaches and mentors who have helped us achieve so much as a program and impact many lives,” said Roorda following the induction. “

It's been humbling to hear from former students, parents and fellow coaches about the impact of speech participation on their lives.”

P.J. Mahaffey, a Montezuma graduate turned lawyer, spoke on behalf of Roorda at the induction.

“He also spoke to all the coaches and attendees about the immense impact we can have as coaches,” noted Roorda.

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“He quoted Fred Rogers from his acceptance speech for a lifetime achievement Emmy when he said, ‘All of us have special ones who have loved us into being. Would you take along with me 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are, those who have cared about you and wanted what is best for you in life?’”

Mahaffey then encouraged everyone to continue to be that special one for others and “love them into being.”

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Roorda was born and raised in the Boone area, graduating from United Community School. It was there she was encouraged to explore both sports and the arts.

Thanks to two passionate educators, Ruth Ornberg and Ann Cope Johnson, Roorda was exposed to speech and theater as a first-grader, sitting crisscross applesauce on the gym floor and amazed at a touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar.

In high school, Roorda found a home on the stage and in the IHSSA.

In college, Roorda became a judge, allowing her to give encouragement and feedback to the next generation of IHSSA participants. Judging became a gateway to meeting some of the greatest IHSSA mentors.

When she started teaching elementary students in Grinnell, Liz Hansen, a longtime speech and drama coach at GHS, encouraged her to become involved with the IHSSA program.

She spent three years developing her coaching abilities and, during this time, Roorda continued to judge and met more mentors and leaders in the IHSSA.

Roorda married a hometown Montezuma boy, Brian, which brought a change in schools and career. She was now a second grade teacher at Montezuma.

Although she had a shift in her work journey, her heart never changed when it came to speech. Roorda was always looking to share her fondness and knowledge for the craft.

Through her speech pursuits, Roorda has hosted many large group and individual events speech contests, served on the Large Group All-State and Judge Certification Committees, as well as leading the southeast district of Iowa as a district officer.

Roorda also has a new passion producing and costuming Montezuma’s fall musicals. She continues to teach second grade — loving every second of it — and supporting Montezuma’s current coaches and students, while still working with the IHSSA and maintaining her musical roles.

Roorda taught in Grinnell for six years, and this marks her 30th year in Montezuma, making this her 36th year teaching.

“This will be my 28th year coaching speech in Montezuma with two years prior in Grinnell,” said Roorda.

“Liesl has been someone who has always been a part of my life,” said Montezuma graduate and teacher Macy Taylor Richardson.

“From a young girl, I remember Liesl always being a constant person in my life. When becoming high schooler, I quickly fell in love with speech and drama and my passion grew because I had a coach that had a fire about speech and drama that she wanted to share.

“Liesl quickly became my coach, my mentor, my leader and now I am able to consider her a co-worker and a friend,” said Richardson. “I am so thankful for everything she has done for me throughout my life.

“Nobody is more deserving of this award than this woman.”

“I worked with Liesl for the first time when I was in seventh grade,” said Lydia Singleton, a 2024 Montezuma graduate. “She watched me grow up and helped me so much in my journey as a performer.

“Liesl is a theatrical genius in so many ways,” said Singleton. “More than that, she cares deeply about her students and their success. She pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and truly become the best version of myself.

“Liesl is so deserving of this honor, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from her over the years.”

“Liesl first made an impact on me at an early age, getting me out of my shell and urging me to be more social,” said Montezuma graduate Kaya Latcham.

“She is one of the most compassionate people I know and is always determined to create the best product out of whatever she is working on.”

“Montezuma has been blessed with very talented and caring coaches who have filled these roles for students throughout my time here, not only in speech and drama but also in athletics and other activities and provided opportunities and experiences that have helped shape students and encouraged them to grow and work hard to achieve great things in the activity and in life,” said Roorda.

Family and faith are central to Roorda’s life. She loves her role as wife, mother to Spencer and his wife Katie, Sidney and his wife Sherly, Waverly and Isabella, and grandmother to Maeve and Harlen.

Liesl’s faith and the love and support she receives from her family continues to play the central role in her journey on and off the stage.