Local Teacher of the Year Finalist Calls it an Honor and a Privilege to be Named Among State’s Best

(KNSI) — A Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalist says it was an honor and a privilege to be mentioned among Minnesota’s best.

Sartell High School Tech Education Teacher Joe Schulte spoke to KNSI News on his first day back after attending the ceremony. He has been a technology instructor for 23 years and says his passion for teaching grows each year. “Over the course of my career, Tech Ed just allows me to really take students that are so well formed. And you just provide this platform for them and you watch them do amazing work and learn by leaps and bounds.”

He says the recognition is a credit to the district, as nine of the initial 132 nominees for the honor came from the Sartell St. Stephen School District and was tied for second most in the state behind Bloomington and the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

Schulte says he loves how the school district gets kids ready to become problem solvers and work in teams to think creatively and innovate by the time they get to him. “I’ve been challenged by this job, in this place, this district since I arrived. And it was one of the reasons I took the job. I felt like they are going to challenge me to be my best, and they have.”

He says all 11 finalists are doing something above and beyond that addresses some challenges within society, education or the classroom. He advanced for his work toward creating affordable housing with the SabreCon program and its partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

The SabreCon program started in 2019 and is preparing to finish its second home build this week. Thirty kids built the house, which will be placed in the Westwood neighborhood in St. Cloud. The school is preparing to construct a third home next year.

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