BHM honors four teacher leaders

Each year Central Minnesota school districts have the opportunity to recognize a few of their outstanding teachers with Leadership in Educational Excellence Awards, and four of Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District’s finest attended the regional award banquet in Waite Park on Sept. 30.

The award winners were Kristen Hovland (first grade, Northwinds), Stacey Swedal (grades 3-5, Discovery), Andrea Koltes (English and AVID, Buffalo Community Middle School), and Lisa Nordmeyer (French and Spanish, Buffalo High School).

Read on for more info about each.

Kristin Hovland
For 35 years, Hovland has helped guide first-graders through one of their most foundational years of school in Buffalo.

“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, and it has turned out to be a great fit for my personality,” Hovland said. “I love motivating and encouraging children, finding creative ways to teach, and bringing joy to their days. At the heart of it all is my love for children and helping them discover what they are capable of.”

Aspects of the job that have kept Hovland motivated across decades in the classroom include watching children grow in confidence, the opportunity to create a fun and challenging classroom environment, and the relationships with students, families and colleagues.

“I feel grateful to receive this honor,” Hovland said. “Throughout my many years teaching in the BHM district, I have been fortunate to work alongside amazing administrators and colleagues who have encouraged and supported me along the way. I see this honor as a reflection of the wonderful people I’ve worked with and the relationships that have made my career so rewarding. I hope to continue leading with positivity, supporting others, and helping students develop a strong love of learning.”

Northwinds Principal Carmen Tubbs said that emphasis on relationships – built on care and compassion – is a hallmark of Hovland’s work. 

“She take the time to know students, understand them, encourage them, and help them recognize their own potential,” said Tubbs. “The relationships she builds are not simply relationships that last for a school year – they are the kind of deep, meaningful relationships that stay with students and families for years to come.”

Tubbs said the award is simply a reflection of Hovland’s skill as an educator and her impact on those around her.

“She exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator. She brings a positive attitude and leadership to our school each day, and serves as a role model for both students and colleagues. Her strong instructional practices and deep knowledge of her content are evident in the thoughtful learning experiences she creates and in the high expectations she holds for every student.”

Andrea Koltes
BCMS Principal Matt Lubben said that Koltes has been “instrumental in advancing our schoolwide AVID programming, inspiring not only her students but also her fellow educators through her leadership, expertise, and passion for teaching.”

In her 23-year teaching career, including 10 years in Buffalo, Koltes said that interacting with students is her favorite part of the job.

“Middle schoolers make every day different, fun and challenging,” she said. “I love that every day is a new experience.”

When considering a career, Koltes said her priorities were to make a positive impact on others while doing something she enjoyed.

“Teaching does both of those things for me,” she said. “I had many amazing teachers in my life, and felt called to be a teacher myself!”

In that capacity, she has been a difference-maker for students in terms of supporting their academic and personal growth.

“Her flexibility, collaborative spirit, and willingness to embrace every challenge make her an invaluable member of the BCMS family,” said Lubben. “We are incredibly fortunate to have Andrea as a colleague and educator who continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of our students.”

Koltes said the award is a meaningful milestone.

“I strive to not only be the best teacher I can be for my students, but also to support my colleagues in doing the same,” she said. “I feel very honored to be seen as a leader at BCMS amongst so many amazing educators.”

Lisa Nordmeyer
Over a 35-year teaching career that started just outside of Chicago, Nordmeyer has enjoyed opening new worlds to high school students.

“I love taking students from knowing zero Spanish or French and seeing them write, speak and understand even just a little by the end of the year. Showing students how much they can learn in a year is powerful,” she said.

Now in her 11th year in Buffalo, Nordmeyer has been recognized as a “difference-maker” by BHS Principal Mark Mischke and others.

“She brings a positive and caring energy into her classroom every day,” said Mischke. “She is an extremely talented educator who knows how to deliver strong instruction that is understandable for students. She has it. Students want to be in her classroom because they know she cares. We are very lucky to have Ms. Nordmeyer as a part of our BHS team.”

Nordmeyer said she chose teaching as a career because of excellent high school teachers who challenged her and helped her realize her own potential as a student.

“I realized that I really liked to learn new things and it just naturally led to becoming a teacher,” she said. “I think I was born to be a teacher.”

As one of just four teachers to receive the Leadership in Educational Excellence Award out of around 300 licensed instructors at BHM Schools, Nordmeyer said the recognition was deeply appreciated.

“BHS has a lot of teachers doing amazing things with their students and in the BHM Schools community, so I feel quite honored to be recognized for my role in my department and in BHS," she said. "I’ve had a wonderful teaching career and it’s something I’ve really loved. It’s really nice to feel so valued.”

Stacey Swedal
For some, there is no mystery in which career path to take.

“There was never any doubt in my mind that I wanted to become a teacher,” said Swedal. “From a very young age, I loved playing school. My mom ran a daycare, and I would often play ‘teacher’ with the daycare children. Looking back, I think those early experiences sparked my love for teaching and working with children. It just always felt like what I was meant to do.”

That clarity of purpose has led to a 22-year career in the classroom, including 17 years at Discovery Elementary, where Principal Mat Nelson has appreciated her careful attention to detail.

“She understands that every student needs something different and adjusts accordingly to accommodate their individual needs, and pushes all students to learn, grow, and develop,” Nelson said. “Mrs. Swedal exemplifies what the highest-quality teacher should be and demonstrates so much dedication to the Discovery Elementary School community.”

Because of Discovery’s looping model, Swedal has the opportunity to teach many students for three consecutive years. 

“I love watching my students grow, not only academically, but also as individuals, during such important years of their lives,” Swedal said. “Being a part of their journey and seeing their confidence grow is incredibly rewarding. And, of course, I absolutely love those ‘aha!’ moments when something finally clicks for a student. Those moments are what make teaching so special.”

Swedal said that the recognition has been “incredibly meaningful.”

“To be recognized by others for something I love doing every day is a very special feeling,” she said. “I see this honor as a reflection not only of my work, but also of the amazing students, families, and colleagues who have been part of my journey as an educator. After so many years in education, I am especially grateful to be reminded of why I chose this profession in the first place. The relationships I build with students, watching them grow, and being able to make a difference in their lives are the parts of teaching that mean the most to me. This honor is a wonderful reminder that those relationships and those everyday moments truly matter.”