Posted: 5/26/04
From Wal-Mart
Steve Ogren, a fifth grade teacher at North Branch Middle School, was selected as the local Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year.
On Monday, May 10, associates from the White Bear Lake Samís Club came to North Branch bearing a large cake for Ogrenís class to share, an honorary Wal-Mart greeter vest for Ogren and a $1,000 check for the school to use in enhancing educational opportunities.
Wal-Mart celebrated National Teacherís Day by presenting $4.3 million in educational grants to schools nationwide. This is the ninth year of Wal-Martís teacher of the year program.
Ogren said it was quite a surprise for him to be honored this way.
He was nominated by current fifth grade students and also by two former students.
Ogren said it really isnít too hard to be a great teacher; it just takes patience.
ìI listen to the students and hear what theyíve got to say,î he said. ìItís important in this profession to let them have an avenue.î
Ogren has been teaching for 26 years. He originally started teaching high school classes, then led some seventh and eighth grade classes.
When he started at North Branch Middle School, Ogren science to seventh- and eighth-graders for about 5 years. The past few years he has been teaching 5th grade.
Ogren has a biology degree.
He said heíd like to do more hands-on activities, one of his favorite parts of teacher, but sometimes there are time constraints.
The $1,000 grant will be used for the fifth grade classes.
Ogren said heís leaning toward using some of the grant money to enhance environmental programs so students have more interaction with the environment.
The students who nominated Ogren, he said, are quite proud they could be as effective as they ended up being just by using words to describe their appreciation of Ogren.
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