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Minnetonka Schools has announced the award honorees for the 2025 Celebration of Excellence awards, an annual districtwide awards program that honors several outstanding teachers, staff and community volunteers.
This year’s event is Thursday, May 15 from 6-8:30PM at the Arts Center at Minnetonka High School. It is open to the public and will also be live streamed on YouTube. (The link will be posted as the event approaches.)
Here are this year’s Celebration of Excellence award recipients:
MINNETONKA AWARDS FOR CHILD-CENTERED EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
- Reid Anderson, Deephaven Elementary
- Claiborne Day, Groveland Elementary
- Brent Hirsch, Minnetonka High School
- Samantha Howard, Clear Springs Elementary
- Kendra Johnson, Minnetonka Preschool
- Jonathan Nelson, Minnetonka Middle School West
- Erin Osgood, S.A.I.L.
- Wenting Qiang, Scenic Heights Elementary
- Lisa Reisenauer, Excelsior Elementary
- Julia Small, Minnetonka Middle School East
- Carolyn Suarez, Minnewashta Elementary
- Andrew Werner, Minnetonka High School
AWARD FOR CHILD-CENTERED EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING E-LEARNERS
- Jennifer Harding, Tonka Online
MINNETONKA EMPLOYEE AWARDS FOR CHILD-CENTERED EXCELLENCE
- Heather Baker, Paraprofessional, Excelsior Elementary
- Patricia Bazany, Paraprofessional, Early Childhood Special Education, MCEC
- Dawn Bruesehoff, School Counselor, Minnetonka Middle School East
- B.J. Buckland, Bus Driver
- Valerie Curtis, Explorers Program Specialist, MCEC
- Sarah Johnson, Community Service Specialist, Districtwide
- Amy Jore, Arts Center Costume Coordinator, Minnetonka High School
- Mark O’Brien, Head Custodian, Minnetonka Middle School East
- Jeremy Peacock, Campus Facilities Manager, Minnetonka High School
- Heather Pint, Cook Helper, Minnewashta Elementary
- Julie Roderick, Technology Field Technician, Districtwide
- Diane Severin, School Nurse, Minnewashta Elementary
- Shannon Waggoner, Finance and Operations Support Specialist, Districtwide
TEAM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN COLLABORATION
- Nutrition Services Department Leadership Team
COMMUNITY EDUCATION VOLUNTEER/BUSINESS PARTNER AWARDS
- ECFE/Preschool Volunteer of the Year: To be announced soon!
- Youth Programs Volunteer of the Year: To be announced soon!
- Adult Programs Volunteer of the Year: To be announced soon!
- Community Education Business Partner of the Year: To be announced soon!
SPINNAKER AWARD
- To be announced soon!
VANTAGE GOLD PARTNERS
- Sarah Butcher, Target
- Max Lauerman, Maid This
MOMENTUM GOLD PARTNERS
- Youngstedts Automotive
- Craig Lommel, Delta Airlines
- Scott Patz, United Airlines
BRAD BOARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
- To be announced soon!
JOYCE GUSTAFSON MEMORIAL AWARD
- To be announced soon!
JUDY ERDAHL MEMORIAL AWARD
- To be announced soon!
AWARDS ANNOUNCED MAY 15
- Employee Service Awards honoring 20, 25, 30 and 35 years
- 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Nominees
If you have questions about the Celebration of Excellence program, please contact Dr. JacQui Getty, executive director of communications for Minnetonka Schools, at jacqui.getty@minnetonkaschools.org
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