Three Annandale teachers were honored as outstanding educational leaders at the 26th annual Leaders in Educational Excellence event on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.
Those honored included Annandale Elementary special education teacher Tara Kubian, Annandale Middle School communications teacher Troy Davidson and Annandale Senior High School special education teacher Josh Dickinson.
"Schools, students and teachers have access to tons of technology," said Ken Anderson of Resource Training & Solutions. "But it is the teacher that makes all the difference in the world."
Staff members at each Annandale’s three schools did the voting.
"I feel being selected by your peers brings even more meaning to this honor," said Annandale Superintendent Tim Prom. "To be selected by those around you really says something about the job you are doing."
More than 465 people attended the event to honor 152 educators from 40 school districts.
Tara Kubian
Kubian was born in South Korea and adopted at five months. She attended school in the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted school district and graduated from Maple Lake High School in 1994.
"I experienced life, work and motherhood before receiving a B.A. in psychology from St. Cloud State University in 2010," Kubian said.
When she realized that her psychology degree wouldn’t lead to earning any money without spending eight more years in graduate school, she decided that special education teaching would be the best route. She received her learning disability LD licensure in 2013 and emotional behavioral disorders licensure in 2014.
Kubian is in her fifth year as a special education licensed teacher, having spent the first two years in Litchfield and the past three at Annandale Elementary.
"Tara is such an incredible teacher, but more than that, she is such a lovely human being with a big, loving and caring spirit. Her calm, kind demeanor and her willingness to always go above and beyond makes her extra-special," said Amy Miller, Annandale Elementary’s social worker.
"Her students know that Tara is their advocate, their supporter, their cheerleader and that she genuinely cares about them. It is a privilege and honor to work with her each day. She is so very deserving of this award and so much more."
AES Principal Jon Klippenes said Kubian has made a significant impact on the students and staff in her short time there.
"She is extremely positive and is the first person to volunteer when help is needed," he said. "Tara is magnificent at building relationships with students and her lessons are some of the most creative lessons I have observed.
"Students love being in Tara’s class and she provides a calming atmosphere wherever she goes. She is truly deserving of the LEEA award."
Kubian was asked the following questions about teaching:
■ What is the most difficult part of teaching?
"Maintaining the balance between providing quality educational services to our students, managing challenging behaviors and being able to complete the enormous amount of paperwork that drives services."
■ What is the most rewarding aspect of teaching?
"Being a part of the experience when a student ‘gets it.’ Whether that be academically, socially or behaviorally."
■ How do your colleagues influence you as a teacher?
"The teaming within Annandale Elementary is amazing. I see and experience staff positivity every day and it’s contagious.
"Student success is the main goal on all of our minds and each teacher here makes it a mission to collaborate as much and as often as needed to provide what’s needed to meet student needs. Staff here is like a family. I love being a part of it."
Troy Davidson
Davidson grew up in Oakdale and graduated from St. Cloud State University. He has been teaching for 16 years, one year in Richfield and 15 in Annandale.
"I decided to become a teacher after I got out of the Army," he said. "I did a little bit of teaching in the military and thought that would be something fun to pursue. I also thought I could become a different kind of teacher than most of the teachers I had in school."
Davidson is known for doing many things outside of the classroom, for the school and in the Annandale community.
"Sometimes there are things I do outside of the classroom that I feel are more important than what I do inside the classroom," he said.
Prom, a former middle school principal, points to a student club called ‘Commit to Kindness’ that was started by Davidson.
"This club worked together, brainstorming different ways to help raise money and provide items for families in need," Prom said. "He led this group as they took on several projects and events that provided much-needed help for our families."
The superintendent said that as a director, Davidson has elevated the middle school musical to another level, and that he is also an excellent teacher.
"He challenges the eighth grade students in his communications classes and is willing to try new strategies and techniques in his instruction," Prom said.
"Troy is a favorite teacher of many of our eighth grade students" AMS Principal Jeffery Erickson said. "He brings an energy and sense of humor to the classroom and is involved in everything.
"From talent show coordinator to coaching and advising to organizing fundraisers to help others, Troy is there for our students and community," Erickson continued. "He is a leader in and out of the classroom."
Davidson was asked the following questions about teaching:
■ What is the most difficult part of teaching?
"For me it is the business end of things, like paperwork, grades and things like that."
■ What is the most rewarding about being a teacher?"
"It’s when you reach that student or group of students and you know you have made a difference."
■ How do your colleagues influence you as a teacher?
"I get a lot of moral support from my colleagues. My eighth grade cohorts are a great group to work with. We often work together on interdisciplinary assignments, which is always a good thing. I get a ton of support from everyone, including the administration."
Josh Dickinson
Dickinson grew up in the Monticello school district and graduated from Monticello High School.
"Following graduation I could not wait to get out of the small town I had not yet grown to appreciate," Dickinson said.
He went on to attend St. John’s University, where he was a percussion performance major.
"Due to poor planning on my part, I quickly realized that the small town I was so desperate to escape was heavily amplified in St. Joseph and Collegeville," he said.
Dickinson transferred to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus following his freshman year.
"I could finally be in the big city and part of a music program with more than a handful of percussionists," he said.
Dickinson went on to study at the University of Wisconsin -River Falls and the University of Minnesota – Duluth.
"I graduated with a B.A. of Business Administration with a minor in music and a really expensive education," Dickinson said.
He later received his masters in special education at SCSU.
Dickinson has been teaching for six years, and it is his fourth year at Annandale High School.
Following his student teaching in South Africa, he began his teaching career at the Main Street School of Performing Arts in Hopkins. Dickinson taught for one year at the Osseo Secondary Transition Center before coming to Annandale. His wife Tessa is a third grade teacher.
"Interesting how I ran like hell to get away from a small town only to come to appreciate every aspect of it later in life," he said.
Prior to teaching, Dickinson worked in corporate environments. He managed a sales territory for a small technology business and owned an automotive customization business with his brothers.
"After my daughter was born I began to reflect on the 100 hours I was working each week," Dickinson said. "Too many hours with very little time left over for my family and no real outlook for change in that department."
Dickinson has been a special education teacher at Annandale High School for four years now.
"Josh has done an excellent job in engaging his students in the classroom," said AHS Principal Scot Kerbaugh. "He brings a unique approach to meeting the needs of his students that has been welcomed by his students."
"I appreciate Josh because he looks at things through a different lens than I do," said co-worker Nancy Halverson. "He has the ability to connect with students in non-conventional ways. He’s frank, says what’s on his mind, but I know he is honest, genuine and truly cares about kids."
Dickinson was asked the following questions about teaching:
■ What is the most difficult part of teaching?
"Just being a teacher is difficult. Doing something awesome is easy. I’ve been doing awesome things my whole life, teaching others how to do cool things without doing it for them, that’s tough."
■ What is the most rewarding about being a teacher?
"Watching a student’s face when they discover pride and accomplishment for the first time. That is the absolute most rewarding aspect of teaching."
■ How do your colleagues influence you as a teacher?
"I learn something new every day from experiences with other teachers. We can’t possibly work in a bubble. If I am not aware of what is happening down the hall, it makes it a challenge to wrap the whole educational process together.
"Whether they know it or not, every other teacher I work with directly influences the teacher I am at the end of each day. It all has to come together to be relevant and meaningful."