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Leadership
Teaching Today Minnesota | Summer/Back to School 2024 Page 25

Finalists for 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

On Teacher Appreciation Day, our incredible 2024 The 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year was chosen from a group
f nalists talked about why they teach. of 11 teachers who were named f nalists in the program. An independent

selection panel of 17 leaders in the areas of education, business, govern-
ment and nonprof ts selected the f nalists from a group of 27 semif nalists.
There were 159 candidates for this program year.
The selection panel met to conduct individual interviews with each of
the 11 f nalists and to cast votes for the 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the
Year. For a look at how the selection process works, go to https://educa-
tionminnesota.org/news/awards-and-honors/teacher-of-the-year

Rachel Betterley Rebecca Buck
“The best way to create a good Commu-
North Woods School, Gideon Pond Elementary nity is to roll up your sleeves and get messy
St. Louis County Schools, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District and do the hard work. Growing up I never
Visual Arts, 8–12 Music, K–5 had a teacher who looked like me and I want
“I teach because I know it takes one “I teach to inspire my students to learn to make sure that other students don’t have
subject in school to make a difference in a and practice empathy and learning about other that same problem. I teach because at some
child’s life. I teach because regardless of our cultures through the doorway of music educa- schools, lunch is really good. (hahaha) I teach
adversities or circumstances that every child tion. I teach to model how learning can be so because the kids and give me all kinds of
deserves to f nd their voice to create to explore much fun. I teach to encourage group work, Tracy Byrd energy. Every single day I learned things from
by the path of resilience through education. I social skills, and community building. I teach them. They teach me as much as I teach them.
teach to heal not just myself but also the world to see that joy and spark that they get in their 2024 MN Teacher of the Year This is why I teach.”
around me.” eyes when they f nally understand a concept or Washburn High School
singing game or an instrument part. I feel most Minneapolis Public School Continued on Page 26
alive when I’m working with my students and English Language Arts, 9.
that is why I teach.”
District Indian Education Teacher Wins Out-

Dr. Fatima Lawson Continued from Page 24 standing Elementary Teacher of the Year Award

that make this award possible; to our district not have come this far without your love, really important for these kids,” Stately said. “I
leadership, Dr. Joe Gothard, our outgoing understanding, collegiality, guidance, mentor- just love the elementary age.”
superintendent; to Dr. Adam Kunz, Assistant ing and support!” Some of the topics Stately’s students have
Superintendent and my supervisor, whose Dr. Lawson’s exemplary leadership engaged in this year include learning about
leadership has been instrumental in encourag- serves as an inspiration to educational leaders native storytelling and how it relates to constel-
ing and supporting me to dream big things for across the nation, exemplifying the transfor- lations and animals, traditions of jewelry making
Highwood Hills; to my principal colleagues at mative power of collaborative leadership, and more.
SPPS and across the state that supported me innovative thinking, and a steadfast commit- Crest View Elementary School’s Laura
and actually showed great examples of lead- ment to student success. Wagenman nominated Stately for the award.
ership to emulate; to the MESPA Leadership; “Jillian is dedicated to ensuring our students
and last but certainly not least, to my beloved in Indian Education feel connection, belonging
family: Roger Lawson, my dear husband, and see their cultural gifts,” Wagenman said.
friend, cheerleader; my four daughters, my “She is a creative educator who facilitates hands-
sons-in-laws, and my six granddaughters. To highwoodhills.spps.org on learning experiences that cultivate joy and
all of you, I say a very big thank you! I could ISD 279 - Osseo Area Schools rich cultural ties.”
The MIEA conference, where she received
Jillian Stately, an Indian Education teacher her award, had over 500 attendees including
Minnesota Finalists for PAEMST Award for nine of the district’s elementary schools, was Indian Education teachers, coordinators, direc-
recently recognized with an Outstanding Ele-
Continued from Page 1 mentary Teacher of the Year award at the April tors, parents of Indian Education students,
community members and non-Native educators.
18 Minnesota Indian Education Association
Foundation on behalf of the White House Teachers who are selected as PAEMST (MIEA) conference. “It was an overwhelming feeling of hap-
Off ce of Science and Technology Policy. awardees receive a trip to Washington, D.C., Stately serves 140 district students who are piness to be acknowledged as the teacher of the
The f nalists represent the most outstand- where they attend a series of recognition Native American at nine schools, plans curricu- year in a room full of educators that are also
ing teachers Minnesota has to offer, and they events and professional development opportu- lum for all elementary sites and meets regularly doing amazing work in their Indian Education
serve as both a model and an inspiration to nities. They also receive a $10,000 award from with groups of students for lessons on cultural programs across the state,” Stately said. “I am
fellow teachers. 2024 Minnesota f nalists will NSF, a Presidential certif cate and join an elite knowledge, especially with the region’s dominant grateful and very appreciative for being awarded
be recognized informally during STEM day at cohort of award-winning teachers who can Dakota and Ojibwe tribes. While she has worked for doing this work in our elementary schools.”
the Minnesota State Fair, and formally during inf uence STEM teaching in Minnesota and with students at all building levels throughout her
the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Math- nationwide. six years with the district, she now works exclu-
ematics conference and the Minnesota Science For more information about PAEMST, sively with elementary-aged students. www.district279.org
Teachers Association conference. visit https://paemst.nsf.gov. “Strengthening their cultural identity is