Community of Excellence Awards

• Invests and engages in partnerships to accomplish meaningful and mutual goals
• Works as a team to create learning experiences for our students that meets their unique needs
• Promotes collaborative practices to ensure student needs are met
• Maximizes resources for optimal student learning
• Contributes to our mission of making each student future ready & community strong

• Dedicated to the success of all students through various support roles

• Uses strong connections throughout the district and community to impact student learning

• Builds strong relationships with students and/or staff to serve the One91 community

• Supports the use of district resources with integrity, care and/or concern

• Contributes to our mission of making each student future ready & community strong

• Generates many new and unique ideas

• Makes connections among previously unrelated notions

• Uses transformational methods to achieve district goals

• Maximizes resources for optimal student learning

• Contributes to our mission of making each student future ready & community strong

• Serves the unique needs of all our students, families and communities

• Inspires a love of learning in the students he or she serves

• Dedicated to professional growth and honing his or her professional craft

• Creates a safe, nurturing and respectful classroom where all students can successfully learn

• Contributes to our mission of making each student future ready & community strong  

• Works with partners outside ISD 191 to leverage expertise and resources

• Energizes and leverages relationships within our diverse community

• Considers the unique and valued community assets for developing true future ready learners and citizens

• Increases the capacity for partnerships in the community

• Contributes to our mission of making each student future ready & community strong

• Steps forward to play a key role

• Possess commitment and vision

• Inspires and motivates others

• Unifies One91 members to achieve a common goal

• Contributes to our mission of making each student future ready & community strong

• Individual(s)/team who exemplify the best in what we seek of our employees

• Sets a high bar for self and others in learning, behavior, commitment to do one’s best, and service to others and community

• Honors his or her own uniqueness and others

• Does the right thing even when no one is looking

• Engages in relations and actions that empower learning for ALL

Collaboration and Partnership

• Food and Nutrition Services Department, District 191

Community Engagement

• Brionna Bernier, Teacher, William Byrne Elementary

Excellence in Educational Support

• Julio Neptuno-Temozan, Special Education Educational Assistant, Nicollet Middle School

• Elliot Lund, Technology Specialist, districtwide

Teaching Excellence

• Anne Staum, Burnsville High School

• Matt Berg, Sky Oaks Elementary

• Vicki Spieler, Early Childhood Teacher, Diamondhead

Innovation

• Paul Connell, Teacher, One91 Virtual Academy

Leadership in Action

• Lyndsay Griffin, Early Childhood Coordinator, Diamondhead

• Ken Essay, Principal, Harriet Bishop Elementary

Spirit of Excellence

• Bernie Bien, Lead Nurse, Districtwide

Other staff members and teams nominated for this year’s awards are: 

• Jonalyn Lippka
• Gennie Kappel
• Hudayfi Barsug
• Diane Lorig
• Isis Buchanan
• Chris Bellmont
• Justin Lerfald
• Ashley Gravink
• Molly Moran
• Megan Gauer-Kloos
• Tracy Hiebert
• Jordan Taylor
• Ken Essay
• Burnsville Youth Collaborative Staff
• Kari Roark, Kim Roark, Sue Roark and Kami Roark
• Lisa Engebretson, Autumn Bresina, Brittney Smith, Nicole Nolte and Nancy Kantor
• The One91 COVID Team

Learn more about this year's winners. 

Excellence in Educational Support:

• Maggie Kaufman, Educational Assistant, Nicollet Middle School
• Shelly Felton, Educational Assistant, Nicollet Middle School

Teaching Excellence:

• Janelle Grueneich, Teacher, Nicollet Middle School
• Julia Ulrich, Teacher, Sky Oaks Elementary

Collaboration and Partnership:

• Rahn WIN (What I Need) Time Team
  • Lori Keuler
  • Keri Peterson
  • Lisa Lauer
  • Kayla Zwicke
  • Kim Olson
  • Angie Arias

Community Engagement:

• Hamde Daoud, Clerical, Community Education

Innovation:

• Anne Werner Dempsey, Teacher, Burnsville High School

Leadership in Action:

• Mohamed Selim, Principal, William Byrne Elementary

Spirit of Excellence:

• Rebecca Buck, Teacher, Gideon Pond Elementary

Other staff members and teams nominated for this year’s awards are:

Rahima Abdi, Brittney Anderson, Deb Arakawa, Nick Armstrong, Luke Bearth, Chris Bellmont, Jen Bohr, Sandy Carlson, Teresa Dennis, Ken Essay, Nicole Happe, Stacey Harrold, Joe Kinsella, Megan Gauer Kloos, Kari Komar, Jeff Nepsund, Huda Odowa, Steven Orth, Amy Tucci, Tiffany Weiler, Paula Wendling and Kim Wood. 

HIdden Valley Pre-K teachers and support staff, Nicollet Middle School AVID Team, Project KIDS Coordinators and Vista View PTO.

Collaboration and Partnership

• Katie Ness, Digital Learning Specialist, Sioux Trail Elementary

• Cynthia Check, Early Childhood Coordinator, Community Education

Community Engagement

• Colleen Coleman, Teacher, Burnsville High School

Excellence in Educational Support

• Courtnee Floback, Youth Development Coordinator, Community Ed/BHS

• Robert Weiler, Network Administrator, Diamondhead

Teaching Excellence

• Angela Bell, Teacher, Nicollet Middle School

• Adam Iverson, Teacher, Nicollet Middle School

Innovation

• Alexandria Wills, Teacher, Hidden Valley Elementary

Leadership in Action

• Kathryn Prugh Ploehn & Sarah Singleton, Teachers, Sky Oaks Elementary

Spirit of Excellence

• Usman Hussain, Interventionist, Hidden Valley Elementary

Other nominees include:

• Rahmia Abdi

• Sacdiyo Abdullahi

• Angie Bell

• Chris Bellmont

• Matt Berg

• Melissa Blandin

• Eddie Blaylark

• Melanie Bryant

• Isis Buchanan

• Cindy Check

• Colleen Coleman

• Martha Dudley

• Courtnee Floback

• Norm Frederickson

• Tammy Freeman

• Janelle Grueneich

• Lisa Hendrickson

• Jennifer Hennen

• Mike Huemoeller

• Usman Hussain

• Adam Iverson

• Shar Lattery

• Mary Lopez

• Shelli McCue

• Katie Nelson

• Katie Ness

• Erika Nesvig

• Ifrah Nur

• Ellen Olson

• Lindsey Pollitt

• Katy Prugh-Ploehn

• Kate Quirk

• Emily Rasmusson

• Chris Robasse

• Jeff Schwenn

• Marcia Sexton

• Sarah Singleton

• Melissa Smith

• Suzie Stachowski

• Anne Staum

• Tom Umhoefer

• Bob Weiler

• Alexandria Wills

• Sarah Zeigler

• Kara Zimmerman

• ISD 191 Food & Nutrition Services

Community Engagement:

• Erin Huber, teacher at Harriet Bishop Elementary

Excellence in Educational Support:

• Hamde Daoud & Eddieca Ontiveros, family cultural liaisons at Hidden Valley Elementary
• Jolene Kump, educational assistant at Gideon Pond Elementary

Innovation:

• Sharron Stalock, teacher at Sioux Trail Elementary

Leadership in Action:

• Beth Van Osdel, Systems Improvement & Student Achievement coordinator, Diamondhead Education Center
• Katie Salmela, district elementary media specialist and digital learning specialist, Diamondhead and elementary schools

Teaching Excellence:

• Elizabeth Davidson, teacher at Burnsville High School
• Suzanne Schiffman, teacher in District 191 Community Education’s Early Childhood Program, Diamondhead
• Christine Michels, teacher at Hidden Valley Elementary School

 

Excellence in Educational Support:

• Chris Anderson, Custodian, Marion W. Savage
• Hudayfi Barsug, Educational Assistant, Gideon Pond
• Denise Engberg, Media Educational Assistant, Sioux Trail
• Karen Oshiro, Educational Assistant, Harriet Bishop
• Chuck Robasse, Custodian, Marion W. Savage
• Jack Tillman, Educational Assistant, Vista View Elementary

Teaching Excellence:

• Fran Blair, ESL Teacher. Eagle Ridge Middle School
• Jenny Hugstad-Vaa, Science Teacher, Burnsville High School
• Chris Milinovich, Social Studies Teacher, Burnsville High School
• Heather Nemeth, Language Arts Teacher, Nicollet Middle School
• Angie Tusa, Early Childhood Team Coordinator, Hidden Valley
• Patty Tushie, Special Education Teacher, Sioux Trail Elementary

Collaboration and Partnership:

• Cultural liaisons:
  • Sacdiyo Abdullahi
  • Sahro Abdullahi
  • Maricela Dale
  • Dominic Good Buffalo
  • Heidi Grant
  • Hamdi Hussein
  • Axmad Kaahiye
  • Mary Lopez
  • Abdulahi Omar
  • Mariana Quintana
  • Veronica Ramos
  • Anna-Maria Riveros
  • Maryan Ugas

Community Engagement:

• Shelly Erickson, Work Experience Teacher, BEST transition program

Innovation:

• Colleen Coleman, Social Studies Teacher, Burnsville High School

Leadership in Action:

• Chris Bellmont, Principal, Gideon Pond Elementary
• Kim Harrod, Math Teacher, Burnsville High School

Spirit of Excellence:

• Glenn Simon, Director of Operations, Properties and Transportation, Districtwide

Excellence in Educational Support

• Carol Bengtson, educational assistant, Burnsville High School
• Elly Dahler, administrative assistant, Vista View Elementary
• Maria Gutierrez Beltran, educational assistant, Vista View Elementary
• Mary Lopez, cultural liaison, Nicollet & Eagle Ridge Junior High
• Denise Wolff, educational assistant, Burnsville High School

Teaching Excellence

• John Glas, sixth grade, Edward Neill Elementary
• Marie Hansen, language arts, Burnsville High School
• Meggan Malone, business, Burnsville High School
• Brad Sorensen, language arts, Nicollet Junior High
• David Taylor, fourth grade, Sky Oaks Elementary

Collaboration and Partnership
Chancellor Manor PALS Program: Sam Wyman, Beth Gruenke, Jes Rau, Gideon Pond

Community Engagement

Matt Deutsch, language arts teacher, Burnsville High School

Innovation
Jeffrey Webber, special education teacher, Eagle Ridge Junior High

Leadership in Action
Rachel Gorton, instructional technology coordinator, districtwide

Spirit of Excellence
Brian Ribnick, math teacher and chess coach, Metcalf Junior High