West St. Paul Educator Named Recipient of $15,000 Award for Excellence

Debbi Krohn, a teacher from Garlough Environmental Magnet School in the West St. Paul – Mendota Heights – Eagan Area Schools, was surprised May 6 with the news that she is a recipient of a 2013 WEM Outstanding Educator Award for Ethics in Education, an honor that is accompanied by a $15,000 award.

Krohn is one of six educators being honored by the WEM Foundation and Synergy & Leadership Exchange for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to student learning. She is one of two recipients of the WEM Foundation’s statewide Ethics in Education Award, which recognizes educators who embody ethical behavior and promote ethical development for students through classroom or school activities, policies or curriculum.

Krohn, who has been teaching for 13 years, currently teaches kindergarten at Garlough Environmental Magnet School. Her classroom becomes a school family where students learn to help each other so everyone is successful.

“Ms. Krohn’s students work together as a whole. Her classroom feels more like a team than a group of students,” says a parent and classroom volunteer. “Her ability to build relationships within her classroom encourages students to succeed.”

Outside the classroom, Krohn is a leader at the building and district level. She is passionate about equity training and has been a Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) staff trainer since 2005.

“Debbi pushes herself to the next level,” said Sue Powell, Garlough principal. “She willingly and excitedly shares her talents with staff and embraces working collaboratively to model best practice strategies.”

As part of a contract with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a video crew spent time in Krohn’s classroom during the winter of 2012-13. The purpose of the project was to document student use of democratic life skills. Krohn was invited to participate because of her reputation as a competent and caring teacher.

“Debbi teaches using the ethical compass of her principles – without trumpeting her accomplishments either before the children or to her colleagues,” said Dr. Dan Gartrell, an emeritus professor at Bemidji State University and part of the video crew.

Educators are first nominated for the WEM Outstanding Educator Awards Program by students, parents, colleagues or community members. Those who accept the nomination provide additional information for review and consideration by Synergy & Leadership Exchange and a blue ribbon selection panel, which reviews and ranks the nominees.

In addition to the Ethics in Education Award, two honorees are recognized with the Academic Challenge Coach Award (classroom teachers who are exemplary coaches of student teams that participate and compete in academic challenges endorsed by the Minnesota Academic League Council) and two with the Teacher Achievement Award (exemplary teachers who support, inspire and assist students to attain greater learning as evidenced by student achievement).

Along with the six statewide honorees, additional educators have been selected as regional honorees for 2013. These names will be announced in June.

Synergy & Leadership Exchange (Synergy) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering collaboration to advance the development of ethical citizens, providing educational resources, and celebrating achievement and best practices in Minnesota schools, businesses and communities.

For more information on the WEM Outstanding Educator Awards Program and Synergy & Leadership Exchange, visit: www.synergyexchange.org.