CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

WEM Foundation Outstanding Educator Awards—2006 Awardees Honored at Brunch—2007 Nominations Underway

On September 30, 2006, the Center for Academic Excellence congratulated classroom teachers and academic coaches at the eighth annual WEM Outstanding Educator Awards Brunch. The event was held at the Bloomington Sheraton, where each state honoree was presented an unrestricted $10,000 and a crystal apple award followed by a moment to briefly share their experience as an educator.

The 2006 recipients are: Susan Oppenheim, Southside Family School, Minneapolis and Beth Swenson, literacy specialist and coach for the Brainerd School District, received awards in the Teacher Achievement category. William T. “Billy” James, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Secondary School, and ADawn M. Melbye, Lincoln High School, Thief River Falls School District received Academic Coach of the Year Awards. Sara Paul, North High School, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Public School District, and Monica Villars, Willmar Area Learning Center, Willmar School District received awards for Ethics in Education.

In addition to these six statewide honorees, fifteen regional honorees were determined by the Blue Ribbon judging panel in April. Each regional honoree received a trophy in recognition of their accomplishments in addition to an unrestricted $1,000 award and eligibility to compete in the 2007 statewide program. The regional winners are:

Academic Coach of the Year:

• Loren Dunham (Fairmont Senior High School)
  
• Cheryl Hogie (Lake Park-Audubon Secondary)
  
• Kathy Simson (Wayzata East Middle School)
  
• Lorie Galles (Park Elementary, Hutchinson Public School District
  
• Roger Holm (Holdingford High School)

Ethics in Education:

• Mary Johnson (Sauk Rapids-Rice High School)
  
• Kenneth Fiscus (Albert Lea High School)
  
• Deb Guthrie (Valentine Hills School, Mounds View School District)
  
• Marles Lange (Windom Public Schools)
  
• Eleanor Ruth-Schultz (Wellstone International High School & Work Opportunity Alternative High School, Minneapolis Public Schools)

Teacher Achievement:

• Jean Andrews (Fridley School District)
  
• Pam Schoon (Holdingford High School)
  
• Meredith Kehoe (Bemidji Middle School)
  
• Lance Rach (Heart of the Lake Elementary School, Perham School District)
  
• Stephen Schroeder-Davis (Elk River Public Schools)

The 2007 award program is underway—the nomination process is open, and nominations may be placed on the CAE website: www.mncae.org or mailed in (CAE, 1610 Commerce Dr., North Mankato, MN 56003.) The nomination deadline is March 1, 2007. The application process will cease March 15, 2007, followed by the Blue Ribbon judging panel March 30, 2007. The new honorees will be named in April or May of 2007.

 

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