Minnesota Teacher of the Year

On Sunday, May 6, 2007, I was selected as the 2007 Minnesota Teacher of the Year at the annual award banquet. In the subsequent eight days, a lot of people have asked me how it feels to have received the award. I wish I had a more profound answer than the one I’ve been giving: stunning, overwhelming, and amazing. But the truth is the truth. I spent much of the past week walking around in a state of shock.

In a way, there is an element of strangeness to receiving the award. As teachers, we pride ourselves on equality. To be singled out for whatever reason in a profession with such a credo is jolting. It changes things. Some people assume that the Teacher of the Year title implies that you are a better teacher than others. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am simply a teacher, like any other. I know teachers that work harder. I know teachers with more difficult teaching situations. I know teachers whose students achieve more. In a perfect world, thousands of Minnesota teachers would receive a Teacher of the Year award.

Having said that, I do have to admit that I am excited about receiving the award. As Teacher of the Year, I’ll represent Minnesota teachers for one year. I’ll have numerous opportunities to talk about education with parents, teachers, administrators, politicians, and students. If I can listen well and talk from the heart, I’d like to think that in some small way I can do something good for education in Minnesota. This opportunity, more than anything, is why I chose to accept the nomination and apply for the award. I look forward to the challenge.