Community News C
OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED I saac Ydstie, 6-8 Grade Educator from
state, Kasson-Mantorville Schools increased eighth grade proficiency by 3% from 2019 to 2021,” said Ashley Kaplan, Director of Teaching and Learning at Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools. “Rick Hengel joined Minnesota State College Southeast in 2019 after working in the CNC Machining industry for over 30 years. Rick serves as the lead instructor for the CNC Machine Tool Program and works extensively with high school students seeking college credits through the SLAM (Students Learning Advanced Manufacturing) program,” said Chad Dull, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Minnesota State College Southeast. “Rick has demonstrated a real passion for promoting STEM within our regional high schools, which is why I am nominating him for the STEM Forward 2021-2022 Outstanding Educator Award.” After a hard couple of years when area educators were wondering if they were doing enough or were adequately supporting our youth to receive the education they deserve, the southeast Minnesota community wants to show our gratitude for educators’ efforts. Isaac, Rick, and fellow nominees, Kaitlyn Dunlay (Kindergarten Educator, Chatfield Public Schools), Lisa Nelson (2nd Grade Educator, Zumbrota Public Schools), and Paula Mortenson (High School Chemistry/Physics Educator and Robotics Coach, Southland Public Schools) will be celebrated at the 30th Annual STEM Forward Outstanding Educator Awards presented in person on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022 at 5:30 PM at the Workshop in Rochester, MN. The public is welcome to attend this free event. This award is presented by Southeast Service Cooperative’s STEM Forward. STEM Forward is a collaborative group that consists of 25 southeast Minnesota school districts, five high school education and post-secondary partners, and community businesses like Mayo Clinic, IBM, Lab MidWest, and Workforce Development, Inc, who work together to promote STEM excellence in our K-12 schools.
Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools, and Rick Hengel, Engineering and CNC Instructor at Minnesota State College Southeast, have each won the STEM Forward Outstanding Educator Award that celebrates educators from southeast Minnesota. This year marks the 30th anniversary of this celebration that recognizes educators who foster high K-12 student achievement, exhibit leadership and support for continuous improvement, promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers, and demonstrate collaboration among K-12 schools, businesses, and higher education. “Isaac Ydstie is the embodiment of striving for STEM educational excellence. Since Mr. Ydstie began teaching at Kasson-Mantorville Schools, we have seen an increase in student achievement in science, even during the pandemic. While the student rate for science proficiency in Minnesota decreased by 10% from 2019 to 2021 for eighth graders across the
| Advantage Magazine 14
January 2022
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