Sen. Wiger to Greet Former Teachers of the Year at Capitol

Sen. Chuck Wiger, chair of the Senate E-12 Finance Committee, and another lawmaker have invited six previous Minnesota Teachers of the Year to attend a joint hearing as part of a discussion of future of education in Minnesota.

“This is a group of over-achievers that have made a real difference in our education system,” Wiger said. “Each of these teachers have had hands on experiences with our education system and know what works, what doesn’t and opinions on how to fix it. I think we can all learn something from this group and I am looking forward to their input.”

The teachers will be able to discuss a variety of issues, according to a release, including “parents serving as partners to bridge the achievement gap to fostering personalized learning.”

The hearing is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at the State Capitol.

“Much of our discussion will surround closing the achievement gap,” Wiger said. “Personally, I am looking for new ideas we can implement within our schools and our communities and, of course, how the Legislature can help facilitate that process.”

The Teacher of the Year group includes: Lee-Ann Stephens, Katy Smith, Derek Olson, Jackie Roeh, Mike Smart and Ryan Vernosh.

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program for nearly 50 years has recognized excellence in teaching. People can nominate teachers through Nov. 14 on the Education Minnesota website.