Teacher of the Year: ‘Advice for Staying Human’

Tom Rademacher, Minnesota Teacher of the Year for 2014, reminded future teachers to “be the teacher, that when you started this process, you wanted to be.” To a gathering of over 50 students and faculty in Salvi Hall,  Rademacher shared his big questions that guide his work: Is it fair? Is it important? and Am I treating students like humans? He noted that we need to learn more and teach less, give learners opportunities to follow their passion, and remember that “sometimes they need us to be as human as possible.”

In a communication after the occasion, Rademacher wrote, “Thank you so much for inviting me down to Winona yesterday.  It was a great event, and I'm buzzing today with the energy of the great group of students you have there. Anything I can ever do to be of help, please let me know.  I hope it's not the last time I get down to Winona.” We share that sentiment.

The teacher of the year talk marked the first regular, monthly meeting of the Saint Mary’s Student Chapter of the ASCD, an international organization focused on learning, teaching, and leading in the full development of the potential and capacities of the next generation.  All members of the campus community are invited to SMUMNASCD events. Regular events occur on the third Thursday of each month. Katie LeTourneau, Jessica Bjick, Emily Blaser, and Allison Warmka are the club officers.