Earl and Margaret Hoffmann

Earl and Margaret Hoffman feel strongly about lifelong learning and wish to support those who want to learn and will then share their learning by educating others. Earl Hoffmann was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught elementary school and served as principal and superintendent of schools in Wisconsin and Illinois. He then taught and supervised student teachers at Northern Illinois University from 1968 until 1993, including five groups in England. His interests now remain connected to NIU endeavors, Habitat for Humanity, and reading for the visually impaired and traveling. Margaret Hoffmann was born in Indiana and received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Ball State University. She also taught elementary school children in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Margaret earned her M.S. in Reading from Northern Illinois University. Her volunteer work includes church, Hospice, Kishwaukee Community Hospital, and other agencies. Two of the Hoffmann’s children earned B.S. degrees from NIU. Dr. and Mrs. Hoffmann feel it is imperative that students with the potential to become good teachers be given every opportunity to develop into outstanding educators. The Hoffmann’s point out that while society may blame parents, the environment, media, and others for poorly educated students, it must be remembered that students do not fail the teachers. Instead, too often teachers fail to meet the needs of their individual students. A strong educational background, along with a broad spectrum of experiences and the insatiable desire and insistence on meeting the specific needs of children, and pillars in the development of an outstanding educator. In that vein, Dr. and Mrs. Hoffman hope that this endowment will encourage future educators.