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.

All are welcome to attend the event or to tune in virtually. It is open to the public and the program portion will also be livestreamed beginning at 7:00 p.m.

• 6:00 p.m. - Reception in the Arts Center lobby
  • Light refreshments will be served
• 7:00 p.m. - Awards Program begins (Watch the livestream here beginning at 7PM)

The program will include the presentation of awards, recorded interviews and feature videos of award honorees.

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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, Associate Production Designer/Costume, Hair and Makeup Crews 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

• Kristen Turnblad, Nutrition Services Department Leadership Team
• Alex Bostley, Nutrition Services Department Leadership Team

COMMUNITY EDUCATION VOLUNTEER/BUSINESS PARTNER AWARDS

• ECFE/Preschool Volunteer of the Year: Jenna Cameron and Taylor Kohl
• Youth Programs Volunteer of the Year: Heather LaRock
• Adult Programs Volunteer of the Year: Leslie Elhadi
• Community Education Business Partner of the Year: ATS&R

SPINNAKER AWARD

• Jill Howe, Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation
• Erik Kitt, Minnetonka Aquatics
• LensCrafters & Eden Prairie Eye Care, Support for Minnetonka Students
• Steve Louie and Kaileen Chen, Minnetonka Aquatics
• Jolae Maly, Groveland Elementary PTO
• Dick McFarland, Deephaven Elementary “Grand Friends” Volunteer

VANTAGE GOLD PARTNERS

• Sarah Butcher, Target
• Max Lauerman, Maid This

MOMENTUM GOLD PARTNERS

• Youngstedts Automotive
• Craig Lommel, Delta Air Lines
• Scott Patz, United Airlines

BRAD BOARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

• Jieming Jin, Second Grade Teacher, Excelsior Elementary

JOYCE GUSTAFSON MEMORIAL AWARD

• Paula Erbisch, School Counselor, MMW

JUDY ERDAHL MEMORIAL AWARD

• Shelley Brown, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, MCEC

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