Elizabeth Hedin Award for Educator Excellence

Kelly Hassemer and Kim Mann are the first recipients of the annual Elizabeth Hedin Award for Educator Excellence.

These Red Wing Public Schools teachers were honored last week at individual award presentations.

Mrs. Hassemer is a multi-lingual learner teacher at Sunnyside and Burnside elementary schools.

Mrs. Mann teaches seventh grade social studies at Twin Bluff Middle School. They were nominated by their peers and then selected by committee.

Nomination statements from staff and students alike emphasized over and over how these educators exemplify excellence each and every day — and many evenings and weekends, too.

The Hedin Hartnagel Memorial Fund unveiled the award last year to recognize and inspire outstanding educators and staff in the Red Wing Public Schools.

Every year going forward, the Award for Educator Excellence will come to two exemplary individuals.

The award will operate on a three-year cycle:

In the first and second years, one teacher from grades preK-6 and one teacher from grades 7-12 will be selected, both receiving an unrestricted award of $10,000.

In the third year, two support staff members will be chosen, one from preK-6 and one from 7-12, each receiving an award of $10,000.