BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A Minot educator who helps grade school students struggling with reading and arithmetic was named Monday as the North Dakota Teacher of the Year for 2020.
Sara Medalen is a reading and math interventionist at Minot’s Sunnyside Elementary School. Medalen also started programs to encourage reading, leadership development, and physical fitness.
“Sara Medalen goes above and beyond to engage her students with hands-on, innovative experiences that instill courage and curiosity and prepare them to be lifelong learners and problem solvers,” said North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who announced the award along with State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler.
One of Medalen’s programs is Books and Braids, in which young girls sign up for appointments for Medalen to braid their hair before school while they read aloud from a book. Another is Girl Power, a group of young students who do charitable projects and hear presentations from female role models, including public officials, first responders, business people, and athletes.
In addition, Medalen oversees STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Mathematics) Saturdays, which encourages students to collaborate, use critical thinking and problem-solving skills, take risks, and learn from failure. And she founded Strides for Sunnyside, a running group for students, in order to promote physical activity and help students learn about healthy habits.
Medalen said she has “a grateful heart right now” and wants to be an advocate for all teachers.
Other finalists for the award were Jessica Brandt, a Title 1 English and reading teacher at Casselton’s Central Cass school; Karyn Chiapella, a special education teacher and intervention specialist at the Scranton public school; Susan Lillian McPherson, an English Learner teacher at Northern Cass Public School in Hunter; and Sara Thompson, an instructional coach and reading specialist at Sweetwater Elementary School in Devils Lake.
Baesler and Burgum will host a celebration for Medalen in mid-October.
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