Two teachers receive 2011 Minnesota private Honor Teacher award

  ST. PAUL, Minn. (May 6, 2011) äóî Two outstanding teachers of the year in private educationäóîK-8 and 9-12äóîwere announced at the May 5 event.

Brigid Berger, first grade teacher at Carondelet Catholic School (Minneapolis) received the K-8 Honor Teacher award and Robert Patrick, high school teacher and administrator at Martin Luther High School (Northrop) received the 9-12 award.

The two winners were selected from a field of six finalists who embodied the best of what the stateäó»s private K-12 education offers.

• The three finalists for the K-8 award were Brigid Berger, Carondelet Catholic School (Minneapolis), Anna Heintz äóñ St. Jerome School (Maplewood), and Stephanie Kiero äóñ St. Michaeläó»s Lakeside School (Duluth).
• The three finalists for the 9-12 award were David Huebner äóñ St. Croix Lutheran High School (West St. Paul), David Lane äóñ Mayer Lutheran High School (Mayer), and Robert Patrick äóñ Martin Luther High School (Northrop).

Additional awards presented at the event also recognized the outstanding outreach, staff, volunteers and academic programs at Minnesotaäó»s private schools:

• Rony Aristil äóñ Against-All-Odds, St. Paul Preparatory School (St. Paul),
• Robert Crumley äóñ Behind-the-Scenes Award, Our Lady of Peace School (Minneapolis),
•  äóìStarry Night Promäó äóñ Community Champion Award, DeLaSalle High School (Minneapolis),
•  äóìImagine the Possibilitiesäó äóñ Academic Program Award, Risen Christ School (Minneapolis).

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Mini-Grant Awards were also presented to 17 schools through MINNDEPENDENTäó»s STEM Initiative. These awards totaled $107,000 in grant money given to assist these schools in developing hands-on curriculum to excite and prepare students to be workforce leaders in STEM careers.

The Minnesota Private and Independent Education Awards celebration highlighted the quality of education in Minnesotaäó»s private K-12 school community. Organized by the Minnesota Independent Scho