Becker, Putnam honored as Mitchell School District Teacher of the Year, Classified Staff of the Year

Feb. 28—MITCHELL — When it comes to its teachers and classified staffers and the educational experience they provide to their students, the Mitchell School District brews a mean cup of coffee.

That was the overall message Wednesday afternoon — in keeping with the district's

Be the Bean theme — when Molly Becker and Angie Putnam were named the district Teacher of the Year and the Classified Staff of the Year in a ceremony at the Sherman Center on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University.

Calling district teachers the "espresso shot" of knowledge and its classified staff "the cream to our coffee," Tressa Wede, professor of education at Dakota Wesleyan and the emcee for the event, announced the pair to warm rounds of applause from the audience gathered.

"Together, we're all educators, the master baristas of academia. We're all about concocting resilience, brewing up inspiration and sprinkling a dash of caffeine-fueled enthusiasm wherever we can," Wede said.

Becker, who teaches a third and fourth grade multiage classroom at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School, is in her seventh year of teaching at the school, where the Mitchell native also did her student teaching.

In Wede's comments, she noted that Becker's educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that every student deserves a tailored learning experience, one that meets them where they are and encourages them to take the lead of their own education. She said Becker emphasizes the importance of choice, allowing students to explore topics that interest them through projects and real-world experiences.

Becker said her love of teaching begins with her students and their growth and is bolstered by her friends and colleagues on the job.

"It's truly the kids. It's all about the kids. It's those lightbulb moments and all the notes from students who have gone down the road and are long past my class who sneak in to say hi," Becker told the Mitchell Republic. "And it's the staff, too. It's a team, and I feel very much that we're a team at the school."

The bond she shares with both students and her fellow teachers far surpasses the other many positive aspects of her job.

"It's not the standardized tests. It's not the pay or the lesson plan," Becker said. "It's all about the kids."

Also nominated for the Mitchell School District Teacher of the Year Award were Samanth Hieb, a behavioral specialist at L.B. Williams Elementary School; Candace Hauck, a kindergarten teacher at Longfellow Elementary School; Kindra Clark, a seventh grade language arts teacher at Mitchell Middle School and Robert Lemmon, a chemistry teacher at Mitchell High School.

On the classified staff side, Angie Putnam, a paraeducator at Mitchell High School was selected as the district Classified Staff of the Year.

Wede noted that Putnam's work with the district extends beyond the classroom to the Program for Adult Community Transition, Cafe 111 supervision and specially designed physical education activities. Those characteristics allow her to embody the spirit of the district's "Be the Bean" theme of positive transformation and communication.

Putnam's work takes her to many classrooms at the high school, and she said she loves working with both the students and her fellow paraeducators and teachers.

"I'm truly humbled and honored to receive this," Putnam said. "I work with so many great paras and great teachers and other support staff. It takes a village, as we've said, and it's just so honoring to receive this. I'm very grateful, and thank you all very much for all your support that you give over to all the schools in the district."

Whether it be helping students in classes like biology, science and English, Putnam said her role is one she thoroughly enjoys.

"I really enjoy what I do," Putnam told the Mitchell Republic. "I'm very surprised and very humbled and honored and a little overwhelmed right now."

Also receiving nominations for the district Classified Staff of the Year Award were Katie Cornell, a paraeducator at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School; Danise Baysinger, an administrative assistant at L.B. Williams Elementary School; Kayla Peterson, a paraeducator at Longfellow Elementary School and Ryan Pryor, a prevention specialist at Mitchell Middle School.

In her remarks to the audience, Becker cited the quote "The best thing about teaching is that it matters, and the hardest thing about teaching is that it matters." The quote is attributed to

Todd Whitaker,

considered one of the nation's leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership and principal effectiveness.

Becker said her experiences with the district, her students and her co-workers prove both points.

"I'll leave it by saying our job really does matter," Becker said.

Recipients of both awards were selected by a district committee. Becker and Putnam are now eligible for the same respective awards at the district level. They will then also have a chance to advance to the region and state level.