Lincoln teacher’s legacy lives on in the library

MT. PLEASANT — A bright and welcoming alphabet adorns book bins that are just the right size for little readers in Lincoln Elementary thanks to a generous donation on behalf of a beloved teacher.

Longtime Lincoln teacher, Karla Lance unexpectedly passed away at 67 years old in November of 2018, but the impact her presence made left a lasting impression.

At her celebration of life, friends and families made contributions to the Mt. Pleasant Community School District for the library at Lincoln Elementary.

According to Mt. Pleasant Community School District’s Teacher Librarian Lottie Schnicker, these donations on Karla’s behalf paid for the new book bins at Lincoln.

With a traditional library organizational system, books line shelves with their spines facing out so titles are easier to read, but for students still learning, this makes the books considerably less accessible.

“These bins are a blessing, because the younger kids can’t just flip through them when they’re on the shelf spine out,” Lincoln Librarian Kris Jeffery said. “When they are spine out like they were before, it was so hard. They had to pull them out and then didn’t know where to put them back.”

“They need to see it,” she explained.

“They used to be all be in these big, monstrous, take-up-space red shelves,” Kris said. “It was so nice to be able to put them into these bins for the younger kids.”

According to Karla’s family and the staff at Lincoln, a donation to the school beautifully represented Karla.

Following her graduation from the University of Northern Iowa in 1973, Karla spent 40 years as a teacher pouring into the lives of Lincoln students before her retirement in 2013.

“She taught kindergarten her first year and then graduated and went to first grade and then never got past first grade,” Karla’s son Rob Lance said with a smile.

She continued to pour into students and the Mt. Pleasant community following her retirement as a substitute teacher and volunteer.

According to Rob, his mother always had a passion for her students and school.

“She was very into the kids reading,” Rob’s wife Morgan Lance said. “When our kids were growing up, she would read everything.”

Rob, Morgan, and their two daughters Lucy and Charlotte’s home contains many of Karla’s books.

“We have all of her books that she kept at our house, the special ones,” Morgan said. “Her gifts to our girls were always books.”

Lincoln Librarian Kris Jeffery shared how many in the school knew Karla as “Mother Nature.”

“if you threw away a plastic fork or spoon, she would dig it out of the trash,” Kris remembered. “One time, she was collecting water bottles for [Rob] so he could refill those and take those to work or school or whatever.”

Kris holds a special spot in her heart for Karla. For 20 years Karla’s first grade classroom neighbored Kris’ kindergarten class at Lincoln.

“She gave me this note and angel when I left for a year and went to a different school before coming back,” Kris said as she showed the trinket which sits next to her desk in the library.

“The Lance family are huge supporters of the school district,” Superintendent John Henriksen said. “Rob’s dad was the president of the Athletic Boosters for many years.”

Just as Karla learned to serve others through her family, the Keens of Washington, her children do the same.

Her family continues to love and support the school which served as Karla’s teaching home for so many years.

Morgan works with the district as a medical assistant/health associate and her children, Lucy and Charlotte both attend Lincoln Elementary.

According to Henriksen, Rob’s business Lance Surveying continues to serve the district Karla loved.

“Whenever we need some help finding boundary pins or laying something out, Rob is right on it,” Henriksen said.

“Karla was involved in everything, the Daddy Daughter Dance, sports, everything,” Lincoln Principal Lori LaFrenz said.

Karla also displayed her generous love for others with her involvement with Women4Women, Mt. Pleasant Education Association, and Relay for Life.

Following her passing, a fourth grade class from Salem Elementary walked around their playground for Relay for Life and donated money on Karla’s behalf as they released balloons in her memory.

The annual Women4Women fundraiser, founded by Karla, continued at the Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club.

While her presence is greatly missed, donations like the one for Lincoln’s library, and the impact of the organizations she poured herself into continue to carry on the memory of longtime Lincoln teacher Karla Lance in the Mt. Pleasant Community.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com