Minnesota Teacher of the Year

Finally catching up on that list of things to write about…

(This is the second part of three that describes the Teacher of the Year Selection Weekend. Here is a link to Part I)

The Saturday morning of the interview—although I had set my alarm for 8:00 a.m. in hopes of catching up on sleep—I snapped wide-awake at 5:00 a.m., ready to go. This would have been fine if I had my interview at 5:30, but my interview wasn’t until 11:30. This also would have been fine if I had gotten to sleep at a reasonable hour the night before, but I don’t think I fell asleep until after 1:00 a.m. Yes, I was just a bit nervous. Fortunately, adrenaline rocks: I had plenty of energy. I got up, read for a bit, ate breakfast, and jogged. As the time drew near, I surprisingly found myself getting calmer and calmer.

One of the neat aspects of the Teacher of the Year interview day, which in our case started at 8:30 a.m. and stretched until 4 p.m., is the “waiting room”, which was a room set off at the hotel for finalists to relax in before and after their interviews. I spent a good bit of the day there, as did all of the other finalists. The time spent in the waiting room became one of the highlights of the weekend. You get a chance to get to know the other finalists, cheer them on before their interviews, and congratulate them afterwards. We spent a good part of the day laughing, talking about the process, and simply sharing stories. I was also surprised to hear that several of the finalists had equal or greater trouble sleeping as I did the night before. I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this time, this getting to know the other 10 finalists, and how each of them were equally deserving of the Teacher of the Year award.

As the morning grew short, my interview time drew closer. Before I knew it, I was sitting on the sofa outside the interview room, waiting to be called in. By this time, I had crossed the point of no return. The nervousness was gone, replaced by an excitement stemming from a realization that long awaited interview was right in front of me. Regardless of outcome, the process was drawing to a close. And then it was time.

Gwen Rudney, the Teacher of the Year Committee Chairperson, brought me into the large interview room. Tables formed a large rectangle in the room. On three sides sat the 22 members of the selection panel. The interviewee’s chair sat on the empty end of the rectangle. My first impression of the group was that they were all smiling. Amazingly, there were no intimidating stares, dark robes, or ominous devices of torture. Before I knew it, I was answering questions that spanned a wide range of educational issues, most of them centering on my educational career and my thoughts on education. The selection panel was so appreciative, so affirming, and so genuinely interested in what I had to say that any residue of nervousness I felt before the interview was washed away in their enthusiasm. They made the 30-minute interview one of the most enjoyable half hours of my teaching career. Several of the other finalists felt that the “interview” should be renamed “dialog” to give a better impression of what actually happens in the room, and I would generally agree. There were some challenging questions, of course, but by and large, “dialog” might be a better way to describe my time with the selection panel: it was fun. I should also add that time flew during the interview; the 30 minutes felt like ten minutes.

I’m not going to discuss specific questions, as the intent of the interview is to get spontaneous answers, and putting down questions here would hurt the process next year. However, out of the kindness of my heart in helping next year’s finalists, I have decided to spill the beans on one question. By doing this, I’ll give future finalists something to prepare for as their interview draws near. Please keep in mind the risks I am taking in giving away such highly classified information.

Here is one of the questions: Could you tell us a little bit about what you did in Japan?

There you go. I’m fairly certain that every finalist gets asked that question, so now you can prepare for your interview with a bit more confidence. Just don’t tell anyone at Education Minnesota that I gave away such top-secret information, ok?

After my interview, the finalists and the selection panel gathered for lunch in one of the hotel restaurants. Seating was pre-arranged, and again, the event was an enjoyable hour talking with people who are passionate about education.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon at the hotel. My brother and sister-in-law had arrived from Connecticut, and I spent some time with them, as well as spending more time in the waiting room talking with the other finalists.

After the final interview ended, the selection panel met behind closed doors to determine the Teacher of the Year. While this went on, Doug Dooher, the Program Coordinator for the Teacher of the Year Program, ran an outstanding Media Training seminar for the finalists that helped orient us to some of the things to consider when interacting with the press. Before the Media Training session was half over, the panel had made their decision on the next Teacher of the Year, but that information is kept tightly guarded until the official announcement at the Sunday banquet.

Saturday evening, another brother and sister-in-law arrived from New Hampshire. My wife, my children, my brothers and sisters-in-law, and I had a wonderful dinner at a nearby restaurant. As I went to sleep at the Northland Inn on Saturday night, I felt relieved that the interview was behind me. I looked forward to catching up on sleep.

By this time, psychologically I was feeling good. I had given my best to the process. There is no loser in something like this. I was ecstatic to have been nominated. Making the semi-finals was sufficient honor for me. Being selected a finalist, getting to be part of the selection weekend, and getting to meet such wonderful people was an incredible experience. I went to sleep calm, knowing that I was content with any outcome the following day.

(Part III forthcoming)