Six Minneapolis Teachers Named “All-Stars” for Their Effective Work

with Elementary Students of Color and Indigenous Students

Contact: Kenneth Eban, Executive Director, Advancing Equity Coalition, 763-248-9579 or

Doug Stone, Media Consultant, 651-336-9907

HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL AUGUST 11th

Minneapolis, MN—Six Minneapolis teachers are being honored today as “All-Star Teachers” for their successful work with students of color and Indigenous students in the Minneapolis Public Schools. 

Their students of color and Indigenous students achieved at least 75 percent of their growth targets in math and/or literacy as measured by the FAST at the mid-year point of the 2021-22 school year. All the teachers who met these criteria were confidentially informed by their principals that they qualified for recognition. The six recipients are those who chose to be publicly recognized.

The teachers work at Racially Identifiable Schools, a Minnesota Department of Education designation for schools whose population of students of color and/or Indigenous students is 20 percent or higher than the district average.

The awards are being presented by the Advancing Equity Coalition, a multiracial, multicultural movement of families, students, teachers and community members working together to dismantle systemic racism in the Minneapolis Public Schools. 

The All-Star Teachers honored today include:

  • Chundra Cobbin, 3rd grade, Lucy Laney
  • Ruth Ann Martin, Kindergarten, Nellie Stone Johnson
  • Kelsey Oakes, 4th grade, Lucy Laney
  • Haley Peterson, 2nd grade, Lucy Laney
  • Scott Teigland, 3rd grade, Lucy Laney
  • Sara Van Hoy, 4th grade, Las Estrellas

More information about each teacher, photos, video interviews, and background can be found at: allstarteachers.org  (Note: We can help set up interviews with teachers.)

“Because teachers have the greatest impact on student learning, the Coalition wants to recognize teachers who are getting outstanding academic growth for students of color and Indigenous students in Minneapolis Public Schools,” explained Kenneth Eban, Executive Director of the Advancing Equity Coalition.

“We need to tell their stories to demonstrate this growth is possible,” Eban added. “If we’re going to close the achievement gap, we need so many great teachers to support our students of color and Indigenous students’ academic growth. We’re excited to celebrate the teachers who are already there and showing that this work is possible.” 

Lisa Pawelak, the principal at Lucy Laney Elementary School, said that “what the Advancing Equity Coalition is doing is taking a measure and celebrating teachers. I think it’s beautiful. You can’t take one data point and make it everything, but it is a place to start.

“Teachers work so hard and there aren’t too many professions I can think of where high performers aren’t recognized,” she added. 

Eban noted that the All-Star Teachers delivered “amazing results” amidst a pandemic, a teachers’ strike, and ongoing institutional racism. He added that Minneapolis leads the nation in inequitable academic results between students of color and Indigenous students and white students.

“Great teaching is the most effective tool we have to fight this injustice,” he said.

The following local businesses recognized the “All-Star Teachers” with discounts and services: The Black Market, The Get Down Coffee Co., Parkway Pizza, and Wilson’s Image. In addition, the Coalition offered scholarships to eligible teachers to attend a math and professional development conference in Duluth.

About the Advancing Equity Coalition: The Coalition’s vision is for every child in Minneapolis to receive a high-quality education. Because teachers have the greatest impact on student learning, they want to recognize teachers who are getting outstanding academic growth for students of color and Indigenous students in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

Click the thumbnails to download hi-res images













 

 

 

 
   

 

Photos by Tomas Ray @thinkandcapture, courtesy of Advancing Equity Coalition.