Osseo Area Schools ISD 279: Maple Grove Senior High Teacher Wins KS95's Teacher Of The Week

Press release from the Osseo Area Schools ISD 279:

February 17, 2022

Maple Grove Senior High (MGSH) Business Education teacher Lee Wertheimer was awarded KS95’s Teacher of the Week on Jan. 28. Wertheimer was nominated by a parent and was interviewed by KS95’s Crisco, Dez & Ryan on air during their morning show.

The KS95 Teacher of the Week award has been given out for 17 years and was created to celebrate and recognize teachers’ contributions to kids in helping make them successful in school and for their futures. Teachers are chosen based on their overall involvement with students, what the teacher has done above and beyond the call of duty, the impact the teacher has had on student’s lives, and the dedication to the teaching profession.

Wertheimer has been teaching since 1989. He came to Osseo Area Schools in the fall of 1992, where he started as a Business Education teacher at Osseo Senior High. He started at MGSH in the fall of 2011.

“In my classroom I want everybody to feel like they belong regardless of age or academic skill. I use humor to keep the learning environment lively and fun.” Wertheimer said.

This award is special to Wertheimer because he plans to retire this year, after spending 30 years in Osseo Area Schools.

“I don’t normally enjoy being in the spotlight, but because this is my last year of teaching it’s nice to be recognized for my efforts,” Wertheimer said. “The response from family, friends, colleagues, and the community has been overwhelming! Many teachers will go through their entire career and never be publicly recognized like this, so I do feel grateful to win this award.”

Following his retirement, Wertheimer will be greatly missed by all at MGSH.

“On behalf of the Crimson staff at MGSH, we are very happy for Lee on being recognized with this award. He’s always worked to connect with students and provide them with relevant experiences from which they can apply their learnings to a post-high school college/career path. He’s wrapping up a long career and we’ll miss him very much.” Bart Becker, principal at MGSH, said.

All of the teachers who are awarded KS95’s Teacher of the Week will also participate in a dinner at Radisson Blu on Wednesday, May 25 where one teacher’s name will be randomly drawn to win $1,000 cash for herself/himself and $1,000 for their school. For more information on the KS95 Teacher of the Week award, check out their website.

This press release was produced by the Osseo Area Schools ISD 279. The views expressed here are the author’s own.