2012 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

I am so proud to introduce you to Jackie Roehl, the 2012 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Jackie teaches English at Edina High School. Jackie is immersed in equity and is deeply committed to closing the academic achievement gap. Jackie believes that all students can achieve at high levels. She is passionate and inspiring.  I wish her the best as she creates her own journey as Minnesota Teacher of the Year.        Go Jackie!  

Meet Nine Remarkable Teachers

I wish you all could have had the opportunity to sit in on the interviews to select the 2012 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.  I would love to introduce you to the MN TOY Class of 2012....

Bruce Danielson teaches math at Cambridge-Isanti High School.  He is warm and genuine and tells a great story! I would love to, at 52, sit in on a math class with Bruce.  I think I might actually get it!

Robyn Dettling Madson teaches English at Forest Lake High School.  She is sharp and witty and willing to share her dessert!  I would love to watch Robyn teach the art of argument and debate in her classroom.

Ryan Canton teaches U.S. History at St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West.  He is energetic and enthusiastic and makes history come to life with primary source documents of his own! I know I would be amazed at how Ryan incorporates technology into his teaching life.

Eric Oppegard teaches 5th grade at Lincoln Elementary School in Owatonna (three cheers for the Big 9!). Eric is kind and sincere and has a deep commitment to getting involved in the lives of kids. I know I would feel loved and cared for in his classroom.

Neil Eerdmans teaches 3rd grade at Oxbow Creek Elementary School in the Anoka Hennepin School District. His energy and joy brings light to every room he enters. He is a walking tribute to his mom who I was honored to meet. I am certain I would feel BBA in Neil's classroom.

David Borash teaches social studies at Brainerd High School. David feels deep roots and a commitment to the people in his home town of Brainerd. No one appreciates his work from the booth at Paul Bunyan Land more than I do. I would love to learn how to budget in his classroom.

Greg Goddard teaches AP and IB Psychology at St. Louis Park High School. Greg goes out of his way for students and takes the time to form meaningful relationships with them. I am certain I would be asked to take a lap in his classroom. 

Christy Anderson teaches 5th grade math at O.H. Anderson Elementary School in Mahtomedi.  Christy passionately leans into life, in and out of the classroom. I would love to be in her classroom to watch her create a rap about math.

 Joe Meyer teaches language arts at Eagle Ridge Junior High School in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. Joe is a creative teacher and a powerful communicator.  I would love to be in his classroom on Friday for "Joke Time".

A Big Day!

It was such a big day for ten of the state's finest teachers and I was honored to interview them.  Each one had a compelling teaching story and a passion for the work they do in their classroom. I am so proud to be a teacher and more inspired to do the work I do in my classroom to the best of my abiltiy.  For now, I have a secret!!  Usually, when folks ask me if they can tell me a secret, I advise them not to.  I struggle with impulse control nearly every day of my life and keeping a secret is just too much for me!  I did it though...for several hours even! Someone else knows my secret......

Meet Ryan Vernosh, 2010 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.  Ryan and I finally got to spend a little time together today. Ryan is a someone who has been very supportive of me and has been more than willing to answer my questions about the journey all along the way.  Ryan served as the teacher of the year while raising two very little girls and I admire him very much for that. I really don't know how he and his wife did it! Ryan is a mover and a shaker and I have a feeling Minnesota is just beginning to see what Ryan is made of.

There is just no way to get through this intense, stressful, exciting day without rich desserts and there was no shortage of them here at the hotel.  I was so happy to see them! I will reintroduce myself to my favorite eliptical machine in a few days, I promise. But seriously, how do you expect me to pass on my crown, keep secrets and be pleasant about it without a piece of red velvet cake?

I am flying solo this weekend while Coach Smith makes sense of the world on a baseball diamond so it was nice to be invited to dinner! Congrats to Robyn, Eric, and Joe, three of the finalists, great teachers and super cool people!  I am logging off, time to write a speech! Tomorrow is another BIG DAY!

TOY Practice

So great to be able to hang out informally with the Top 10 Finalists last night. They are all excited to be here and busy defining what the class of 2012 will look like. They will spend the whole day together getting to know one another and cheering each other on as they interview.  Later in the day they will have a media training taught by Doug Dooher.  I am looking forward to being on the other side of the interview table today and getting to know 10 teachers well.  Good luck to each and every one of you!

Target Headquarters

I was so delighted to be asked to share my TOY experience with the team at Target! I love Target, always have, always will. Target is a generous corporate sponsor of the National Teacher of the Year program. I wanted to give them an idea about what the program looks like in Minnesota. I was treated like an honored guest. I loved the tour of the campus (what an amazing place!) and the opportunity to share some stories, a song or two and a few of my favorite books with the team. Target is Minnesota, Teachers are Minnesota, and the partnership is making schools better all across our state. Cheers to our future together. Thanks Target and Happy Birthday! 50 looks really good on you!!

Checking In!!

I have arrived at the Northland Inn, home of the Minnesota Teacher of the Year weekend and banquet.  I am so excited to meet the 10 finalists for the 2012 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.  It doesn't seem at all possible that a year has gone by already. I am feeling a little emotional about passing on the crown (still! no crown) to another teacher. Seems like I have just gotten into the groove of it all.  So much to do this weekend and some really amazing teachers to meet.  Stay tuned!  I will keep you all posted (what DID we do without the internet?!).  I wont go to bed without telling you about my amazing day at Target Headquarters and the sweet little kindergartners I met in St. Paul.....

A Bill Becomes Law

Five teachers from Winona (four from the district and one who works at the Capitol) were on hand to watch as one teacher's story became a Minnesota law. It was thrilling to see history happen in front of our eyes.  There were lots of folks who carried the baton in the long relay from an injustice to bipartisan support for a bill to make things right for teachers who serve in the military. I feel honored to have carried the baton for one leg of the relay. I will always believe in the power of a story and the power of listening and being heard, it really is how real change happens.

Yeah!!