FAIRMONT– Melinda Stewart, a Spanish teacher and English language instructional coach at Fairmont High School, has been designated as the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year at Fairmont Area Schools. Stewart has taught in Fairmont since the beginning of her teaching career in 1994.

Her nomination letter cited Stewart’s love for students and outstanding commitment to learning, equity and professional relevance. Stewart will receive a plaque celebrating her achievement at Fairmont’s Teacher of the Year Celebration on Dec. 5.

Stewart grew up in Maple Grove and majored in Spanish and Latin American Studies at University of Minnesota- Morris. She received her education licensure and went on to receive her Masters at St. Mary’s University. Later she studied English language learner and reading instruction at Mankato State University and was certified to teach Spanish for the University of Minnesota’s College in the Schools program at Northwest Nazarene University.

When Stewart heard she was nominated, her first instinct was to decline the nomination because she felt her success as a teacher was only made possible through a collaborative process with other instructors.

“Initially it was a very uncomfortable feeling to be honored … because nobody does this job alone,” said Stewart.

This reluctance was only overcome by encouragement from her fellow teachers.

“A colleague of mine … said to accept it as the gift that it is, (to) allow others to give gifts to you as well as you giving gifts to them … and it gives me a change to talk about my students,” said Stewart.

Stewart said working with students was the primary reason she chooses to work as a teacher.

“It doesn’t matter who walks into my classroom; I love the ability to teach every student not only as a class but as an individual,” said Stewart.

As a language teacher Stewart said she’s been able to make connections with students that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

“You get to see them change and grow. Since I teach language the core piece that the students are talking about is themselves. They’re talking about their dreams, they’re talking about their families, they’re talking about their friends, they’re talking about who they are and what matters to them, so it opens a door and provides me with an opportunity to get to know them,” said Stewart.

Stewart believes learning another language is difficult for many of her students and appreciates their willingness to make mistakes in her classroom.

“That for me has been the most fun aspect of working with students; seeing them trust me enough to be vulnerable with me and trust that I will take care of them,” said Stewart.

On its surface Stewart’s instruction helps students become fluent in another language but she sees a deeper significance to it.

“For me having the ability to teach language, whether I’m teaching English or teaching Spanish, it is providing students with a tool to access new learning,” said Stewart.

In addition to improving a student’s ability to communicate and understand the world, Stewart thinks learning a language also helps students understand different viewpoints and value diversity.

“We get to have conversations about (how) different means different, different is not good or bad, it’s simply different; it’s a new way of looking at things. That has probably been the most incredible thing about working with learners; seeing their joy, seeing when that moment happens,” said Stewart.

Stewart continues to keep in touch with many of her former students, some of whom are now her colleagues at Fairmont Area Schools.