White Bear Lake Teacher of the Year: 'Making music with these kids is magical'

Wendy Suoja makes music with nearly 200 students each week at three schools. In the fall, she directs another 100 cast and crew members in the school musical.

The newly named White Bear Lake Teacher of the Year strives to connect, on a more than superficial level, with each and every one of those many pupils. To educate and motivate, Suoja said, a teacher needs to really know each student.

“If you don’t know the heart behind the mind you won’t be able to reach them,” she said.

Student Victoria Von De Linde said she nominated Suoja for Teacher of the Year because she supports and inspires confidence in her students. “She sparked a kind of passion and drive in me, for music and for everything else, that I didn’t know existed,” the high school junior said. “She truly cares about all of us. No matter how bad things get, I know she’s always there if I need her.”

Suoja has taught music in the district for 15 years. Every year has brought a different variety of assignments. She’s taught band and vocal music at both middle schools and both high school campuses. This year she leads three choirs at North Campus, the sixth-grade choir at Central Middle School and is a vocal coach at South Campus.

For the last 14 years, she’s also directed the high school’s fall musical, the last several of which have earned honors in state competitions.

She starts each day at 6:45 a.m. with a zero-hour choir and during musical rehearsals she often doesn’t finish her day until 10 p.m.

A love for the job provides the energy to persevere through those longest of days, she said. Suoja likened her many responsibilities to “a plate full of desserts” from which “you can’t have just one.”

“Making music with these kids is magical,” she said. “Every single day there are moments that you hold your breath and are amazed by the music that they make.”

That amazing music comes from gaining students’ trust and boosting their confidence, according to Suoja.

“Singers must trust in themselves and be OK with both themselves and their neighbors singing a wrong note or two once in a while. The best music comes from those who ultimately let go and not worry about being perfect,” Suoja wrote in the philosophy statement she penned for the Teacher of the Year contest.

She also wrote: “My students trust that I will never put them on stage until they are ready. Students should be put at ease and ready to learn knowing that they will do great if they work hard and trust in their teacher’s classroom expectations.”

Suoja, who lives in Dellwood and is married and has two children of her own, requested a “shout out” to her music department colleagues, and to her administrators, students and parents. “It’s never about one person. It takes collaboration,” she said.

The fall musical is an exemplar of collaboration, Suoja said. It brings together freshmen through seniors, as actors and crew, and many parent volunteers. “It really becomes a family,” the director said. “The kids come from all walks of life … and they help and encourage each other. Seeing these kids grow in that environment is so cool,” the director said.

The theater family is reuniting for two encore performances. As winner of multiple honors in the Hennepin Theatre Trust SpotLight program, they’ll perform a medley from their production of “Anything Goes” at the SpotLight showcase next month. Suoja also is assembling a variety show featuring White Bear Lake Area High School Theater performers past and present June 15 as a fundraiser for the theater program.

She’ll have just a few weeks off of summer respite before she gets busy with her next endeavor: helping lead the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s All-State summer camp.

Other finalists

The Teacher of the Year is selected each year by a panel. All school and community members are invited to submit a nomination. Teachers who wish to participate complete a portfolio and a committee led by former Teachers of the Year Jim Christensen and Matt Danielson select six finalists who are interviewed by a volunteer panel of district and community leaders who each cast a vote. All the nominees were recognized and the Teacher of the Year was announced May 2.

The other five finalists were:

Connie Hamilton

Sunrise Park Middle School, choir

Colleague Huy Nguyen called Connie Hamilton, who is retiring in June, “an integral part of our music department for more than two decades.” In addition to leading the Sunrise choirs and teaching a music enrichment class, Hamilton also directed the annual middle schools musical production.

“Thank you Mrs. Hamilton for being that guiding star for all of our scholars, for being a wonderful mentor and colleague, and for giving us that gentle push out of the nest to fly,” Nguyen said. “You’re an amazing role model and we thank you for your dedication to students, your inspiration to our staff and your lifetime commitment of excellence to our profession.”

Hamilton, who has a sign in her classroom that reads “mistakes are welcomed here,” said in her philosophy statement that she strives to “provide a safe environment where students feel confident to try. “Students can only go as far as they believe they can,” she wrote. “My job is to be willing to help them take the risk.”

Cassie Knutson

White Bear Lake Area High School-South Campus, chemistry

Colleague Jacob Montgomery said he nominated Cassie Knutson “because of the innovative ways that she is able to teach a subject that is so intimidating to so many kids while making it relevant and interesting.”  

Knutson’s philosophy statement promoted curriculum that is “meaningful and relevant to students’ lives” and provides “opportunities to practice skills in authentic situations.” She also stressed diversifying to meet all students’ abilities and learning styles.

“I believe that by exploring a variety of teaching methods as well as a variety of assessment methods, I am successfully able to reach the diverse group of students I serve,” she wrote.

In addition to chemistry, Knutson said she strives to help her students develop “socially, emotionally and morally.” “A safe environment is which students feel comfortable and respected is required,” she wrote, and that is achieved by welcoming students both to contribute during class and seek help before and after.

In addition to teaching, Knutson started the school’s chemistry club, is the district’s secondary school technology coordinator and, according to Montgomery, is a frequent contributor of curriculum ideas for her colleagues.

Huy Nguyen

Sunrise Park Middle School, seventh-grade American history

Three families and a former Teacher of the Year nominated Huy Nguyen for the honor; former student Melissa Brown and her father David Brown were one of the families and spoke about him at the event.

“Mr. Nguyen, you have inspired your young scholars to strive for excellence, and as parents of those young scholars, we are forever grateful for your excellence,” David said.

Melissa, who was one of eight of Nguyen’s students who made it to National History Day, said 

 Nguyen brought history to life. “Mr. Nguyen believed in us. He knew, even when we did not yet know, that we could achieve great success. We all have unlimited potential in his eyes, and what powerful gift that is to give to a child,” Melissa said.

In addition to teaching for more than 20 years, Nguyen also has coached volleyball and is coordinator of the National Junior Honor Society.

Nyguyen wrote in his philosophy statement  that he teaches “more about life than about history.” He wrote: “By showing these scholars that they are loved and that they are indeed a priceless masterpiece in the making, by engaging and challenging them to do things they never thought they could possibly do, and by making history come alive (and at times humorous) for them, I am able to foster their love of learning, and in the process, their desire to leave a legacy of serving others with passion and purpose.”

Cha Vang

Lakeaires Elementary, fifth grade

Cha Vang said her father, an immigrant from Laos who encouraged her to capitalize on the educational opportunities he never had, inspired her teaching career and many elements of her instructional approach.

Community engagement and celebrating diversity were repeating themes in Vang’s philosophy statement.

“We must always have compassion and empathy toward our students’ cultures to successfully give quality instruction where we all can thrive,” she wrote. “I find that by engaging community members, like my dad, my students are able to learn real life application, thus developing an appreciation of the diversity we all bring. Including students and their families empowers them to also be teachers in their own right as they share their stories and see that learning expands beyond the classroom.”

Colleague and nominator Odeis Anderson said Vang is strict but still adored by her students because she is kind and fun.

“There is more than just curriculum happening in her classroom. There is truly a community that works together to grow and learn,” Anderson said.

The nominator noted that Vang often spends her lunch and prep time with her students, and stays late to plan lessons and lead after-school clubs.

Shane Whalen

Willow Lane Elementary, fourth grade

Shane Whalen’s students and a colleague said he engages students with measures such as contests, games and costumes. Beyond the classroom, he’s engaged in the school community and students’ lives, they added, citing examples including he deejayed the school dance and attends his students’ sporting events.    

“Mr. Whalen is a gifted motivator and he has an impressive and almost instant way of connecting with students,” said teacher Leigh Anderson.

“Mr. Whalen is an awesome teacher who motivates his students by making learning fun,” student Natalie Andres said.

“Mr. Whalen is special because he makes the day fun and interesting,” said student Beth Engstran. “He really makes each of us feel special.”

“Mr. Whalen uses his excellent sense of humor to keep all of his students very interested in what we are learning,” said student Kolby Bachmeier. “I look forward to going to school each day to see him.”

In his philosophy statement, Whalen said students “need to be active participants in their education” and “view school as a partnership between themselves and teachers.” Providing rigorous education is only part of a school’s mission, according to Whalen. “It is imperative that schools focus equally as much on collaboration, teamwork, problem-solving and increased self-worth,” he wrote.

Courtesy of presspubs.com