VIDEO: 11 Minnetonka Teachers Honored for Excellence

by Minnetonka Schools

This week is national teacher appreciation week. Several teachers living in Minnetonka were selected by the Minnetonka School District for excellence in teaching. They were honored at the district’s annual Celebration of Excellence on May 10.

Minnetonka schools are fortunate to have many exemplary teachers. The difficulty with having a teacher recognition program is narrowing the field to just a few teachers for this annual recognition.

In fact, this year, we received more than 300 nominations for employee and teacher awards. Our Child-Centered Excellence in Teaching awards honor representatives of the many outstanding teachers in the Minnetonka School District.

Recipients of this award demonstrate exemplary commitment, enthusiasm, student-focus, effectiveness, and professionalism. They advocate for the best interest of students and employ a wide range of educational research in teaching, including effective practices in differentiation and technology integration. Most importantly, they exhibit a genuine love of children and a professional commitment to children’s learning.

Teachers are nominated by colleagues, students, parents and community members and are selected by a committee at their school.  Each school in the district chooses one teacher per year, except for which selects two teachers.

The 11 teachers honored include:

·         Mary Miller, Minnetonka Community Education Center

·         Meghan Heldman, Clear Springs Elementary

·         Jane Sladky Valley, Deephaven Elementary

·         Jennifer Hanson, Excelsior Elementary

·         Niki Danou, Groveland Elementary

·         Brendan McCashin, Minnewashta Elementary

·         Lori Anderson, Scenic Heights Elementary

·         Kate Ohrt, Minnetonka Middle School East

·         Polly Pfeifer, Minnetonka Middle School West

·         Kim Seamans, Minnetonka High School 

·         Sonja Saunders, Minnetonka High School