Monday, September 24, 2018
On Thursday, September 20th, Dr. Tony Evers gave his 10th State of Education Address in the Wisconsin State Capitol. Priorities remained on students, educators, and advocacy for the profession through unwavering commitment and fair funding.
Evers discussed the importance of better serving our students who are English learners, students with special needs, and students who are economically disadvantaged. He also honored educators’ voices as the people working directly with our students. Our teachers have important things to say about how we can sustain, nurture, and invest in our public education system.
As part of this themed issue, you will hear from five of those educators. After the State of Education Address, Evers formally recognized Wisconsin’s five Teachers of the Year. Their perspectives demonstrate how educators are working to nurture and sustain a more equitable education system for all of our students.
You will hear from Benjamin Grignon, High School Teacher of the Year, as he works alongside students to share what they learn, sourcing knowledge among their peers, revitalizing the Menominee language and cultural art traditions. You will hear from Elizabeth Gulden, Elementary School Teacher of the Year, sharing how her eyes were opened to providing more equitable access to curriculum, including realistic portrayals of the communities in which her students live. Maggie McHugh, Middle School Teacher of the Year, describes how she is becoming an educator who addresses important topics in her classroom and learns about students as they achieve academic, social, and emotional well-being. Michael Wilson, Special Services Teacher of the Year, expounds on what it can mean to really know students by asking good questions and genuinely caring for them. Finally, you will hear from Sarahí Monterrey, High School Teacher of the Year and Wisconsin’s representative for the National Teacher of the Year, challenging us to examine our school system to remove barriers to equity, starting in our local contexts.
Together, their voices solidify the power of building relationships with students, their families, and communities. They ask us to consider what messages we are sending students in our schools based on our actions, words, and policies, and they invite us to reflect upon where we are on our own equity journeys, with a commitment to moving forward.
Their voices are elevated as Teachers of the Year, which is part of a process that begins with the Kohl Teacher Fellowship Program. Recipients’ applications are sorted into elementary, middle school, high school, and special services categories for an additional scoring process to elevate four teachers to represent education. Due to a tie this year, five teachers were named.
Each fall, the Teachers of the Year are interviewed by the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee to identify one to serve as Wisconsin’s representative for the National Teacher of the Year program.
For information on how to nominate a teacher for the Kohl Teacher Fellowship, visit the Teacher Fellowship Program website. Nominations are due by October 8.