Brooklyn Park, Minn., May 4, 2008 — Carleen Gulstad believes the differences among her students represent strengths, not weaknesses. She taps her students’ cultural experiences and crafts lessons that are appropriate and relevant to their individual backgrounds.

“Our schools are becoming more diverse over time, and that's a very good thing. Don’t give in to the human tendency to be fearful of difference .... Seek out and celebrate new ways of doing things, new ways of thinking, and new ways of communicating. Assume every kid can learn; assume every kid can teach you something,” Gulstad said.

Gulstad, who teaches language arts at Hopkins North Junior High School, was named 2008 Minnesota Teacher of the Year May 4.

Gulstad’s commitment to teaching students good communication skills as well as how to interact positively in a diverse and changing world are among the reasons she was chosen as Teacher of the Year. The original pool included 115 candidates this year.

“Her talent in tapping the strengths of every individual student with the goal of building a collaborative, responsive classroom is remarkable. As just one example of her work: this fall she led her students through a journey of self-discovery in which they uncovered and then shared their truest identities with each other. Carleen has the courage to lead discussions focusing on racial identity, religious affiliations, cultural/ethnic customs, family membership, etc.,” Principal Pat Schmidt wrote in a letter of recommendation.

A former student wrote, “You actually take the time and effort to get to know every student you have every year, and it really helps. You were more than a teacher this year for me …. you were a mentor and a friend.”

Gulstad lives in Maple Grove and teaches primarily eighth graders. A graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead (bachelor’s degree), and St. Mary's University (master’s degree), Gulstad first taught in Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton. She has taught in Hopkins since 1999.

Gulstad will serve as a spokesperson for teachers and teaching in Minnesota, and will be Minnesota's nominee for National Teacher of the Year for 2009. Minnesota has produced four National Teachers of the Year, more than any state except California.

Education Minnesota organizes and underwrites the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Program, which receives program and award support from the following organizations: The SMARTer Kids Foundation, The Northland Inn and Conference Center, the Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, United Educators Credit Union, McDonald’s Restaurants of Minnesota, Teacher Federal Credit Union, Pearson Education, and Education Minnesota ESI. This year marks the program’s 44th anniversary.