WADENA — Excited to be teaching in her “happy place,” Wadena-Deer Creek math teacher Holly Becker now has excited students rallying for her success as a 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year candidate.
The program honors education excellence and expresses appreciation for the outstanding teachers who inspire students, other educators and entire communities. Eligible candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers from public or private schools, according to an Education Minnesota news release.
“That’s like the best compliment you could possibly get as a teacher,” Becker said of the nomination. “I love my job. This building is not just a place where I work, this building is my happy place. It’s my home away from home. When I’m in my classroom teaching my students that’s truly when I feel like I’m most myself.”
She was also a 2021 Minnesota Twins Education Hero nominee, 2018 Minnesota Teacher of the Year candidate, 2017 VFW Teacher of the Year at the local and district levels, 2016 NJPA (Sourcewell) Teachers of Excellence award winner and 2005 teacher of the year for Maddock Public Schools. Becker started adding up her years at WDC in 2005 with teaching algebra from the eighth grade to college level throughout her time.
“Mrs. Holly Becker has been the most compassionate, understanding, and influential teacher I’ve had in my entire school career,” senior Grace Gallant wrote in her nomination. “She always gives 110%, and regularly goes the extra mile to ensure that no student falls behind. She believes in me more than any other teacher ever has, and truly wants success for me as much as she would want success for her own child. She makes me, and many others, feel valuable and loved.”
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While making students feel welcome and creating a fun space for math, Becker carries the fun to the whole school with student council activities and previous cheerleading, gymnastics and dance coach experiences.
“I like to have fun,” Becker said, “so anything that I think is going to have some kind of enjoyment and fun, I’m like, ‘I’ll do it.’”
Over the next few months, the candidates will be whittled down to 35 semifinalists. The finalists are announced in March with the Minnesota Teacher of the Year named on May 1.
“I’m hoping my papers and my letters of recommendation will get me to the next round, and if not it was such an honor to be nominated I already feel like I won,” Becker said. “This would be a bonus to move on but it’s such an honor to be this far.”
Read more about Becker’s love for teaching, her students and WDC in an upcoming edition of the Pioneer Journal.
