SIOUX FALL, S.D. (KELO.com) –Dr. Ann Robertson, Native American Connections Teacher at Whittier Middle School, was announced earlier this evening as the 2021 Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Robertson is currently in her 14th year as a teacher with the Sioux Falls School District (and at
Whittier) and had been a substitute teacher for twelve years before entering her current role.
The Sioux Falls School District and Vern Eide Motorcars co-sponsor the annual Teacher of the
Year award and made the announcement Monday night. Vern Eide Motorcars has been
providing a financial award for the winner annually since 1989. Justin Lake from Vern
Eide generously presented Dr. Robertson with a check for $4,000.
Criteria for selection of the Teacher of the Year include:
• Commitment to lifelong learning
• Effectiveness in meeting students’ needs
• Impact on student achievement
• Effectiveness of home-school cooperation
• Community involvement to promote school-community relations
In the letters of nomination, students, administrators, and coworkers say, “It is impossible to
write into one small letter what Ann Robertson has contributed to students, staff and
administration in her many years as the Native American Connections teacher at Whittier Middle
School. She organized and wrote the Native American Studies curriculum for the middle and
high schools for the Sioux Falls School District. Her ability to link both Native culture and the
standards our students must know is a gift. Her expectations are high and her curriculum is
rigorous. She pushes her students to understand economics and trade through standardized
math and social studies curriculum, while presenting material with cultural relevance. Because
of this approach, students learn about their history while working on skills they will need in the
future. Ann is a main player on our SAT, our Culture Squad, our School Improvement Team and
our attendance team. Her classroom is always filled with positive energy. She has such a
passion for Native American culture that it was contagious. She was a part of every single
person’s life whether they wanted her to be or not. She made a positive impact on everyone.
She cared so much about every one of her students. Every student deserves to have a teacher
like Dr. Robertson.
There were 67 nominees for Teacher of the Year in 2021, the 33rd year of the program. A full
list of nominees can be found on the Sioux Falls School District’s website.
The other seven 2021 finalists were: Tyler Beisch, Edison Middle School – Science; Jennifer
Bogue, Hawthorne Elementary – Kindergarten; Amie Edwards, Hawthorne Elementary – Early
Childhood; Bobbi Greenfield, Sonia Sotomayor Elementary – 3rd Grade; Lindsey Johnson,
Oscar Howe Elementary – Special Education; Jessica Peterson, John Harris Elementary – 5th
Grade; and Rachel Turner, Roosevelt High School – Chemistry.
(Ben J. Schumacher contributed this report.)
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