Cd'A fire inspector honored
<p>Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Inspector Bobby Gonder, a 17-year veteran with the department, was chosen as the National Head Start Association's Region X Edward Zigler Award recipient. The award is given to celebrate local programs who have partnered to create high impact services for children and families.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Bobby Gonder, an inspector with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, received a regional award, the city announced Tuesday.
Gonder, who has been with the department since 1998, was chosen as the National Head Start Association's Region X Edward Zigler Innovation Award recipient. According to a press release from the city, the award is given to local programs that have partnered to create high impact services for children and families.
"I was floored and very honored to receive this award," Gonder said in the release. "I do this because of the kids."
One of Gonder's career goals was to serve the local community to the best of his abilities, the release adds.
In 2008, he became responsible for the "Learn Not to Burn" program - a comprehensive and sensitive subject to teach children. He presented the program to staff at the Head Start center in Coeur d'Alene, and it fully embraced the curriculum.
"Bobby not only teaches these lessons, he goes above and beyond the normal fire safety message and is a uniformed, positive male role model for the children at the center," Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel said in the release.
"He is very busy with fire inspections, fire investigations, facilitating the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program, teaching at North Idaho College, and public education - yet he always makes the time to be with the kids at Head Start," he added.