ECMECC Educator of Excellence Award

C-I Schools in partnership with ECMECC, is excited to announce we will be recognizing an Educators of Excellence award to 5 worthy recipients from C-I Schools. An Educator of Excellence is any educator, classroom teacher, administrator or specialist who exemplifies excellence in these four areas: innovation, effective leadership, building community, and impact on learning.

Innovation

Cambridge-Isanti Schools defines innovation as “a way to purposefully explore creative solutions.” How did this nominee demonstrate effective use of technology to increase opportunities and accessibility for student learning? Describe how this nominee's innovation has improved classroom instruction, teacher training and delivery, effective online programming, and other instructional accomplishments.

Effective Leadership

How did this nominee demonstrate effective leadership in using, or the support of using technology, to increase opportunities and accessibility for student learning? Be specific and describe examples to support the nominee's activities.

Building Community

A part of the Cambridge-Isanti Schools mission includes “addressing the unique needs of each individual in partnership with parents, students, and a unified community.” How did this nominee build community, sharing their innovation with parents, teachers, and educational leaders to affect the desired changes? What particular changes have been instituted in the district that have been successful? What process, possibly replicable by other districts, was used to communicate and motivate the community?

Impact on Learning

What is the major impact of this nominee's achievement? How has this work impacted learning within the district? Please cite specific examples to support these efforts.

Selection of Finalists

The selection process for the 2024-25 award recipients involved an evaluation of The Bluejacket Award recipients, additional individual nominations, and the selection of an administrator who meets the criteria of the ECMECC Educator of Excellence Award. The selection committee consisted of the Superintendent, Director of Teaching and Learning, Director of Administrative Services, Technology Coordinator, and a Technology Integration Specialist.

Introduction: It is my pleasure to introduce a truly exceptional educator—someone whose impact is felt not only in the classroom, but across our entire building. Chelse brings a rare blend of flexibility, compassion, and energy to everything she does. She has a deep love for the outdoors and all living creatures, and she instills that same appreciation in her students.

Her classroom is a place where books come alive, and her enthusiasm for reading is absolutely contagious. She creates an environment where curiosity is nurtured and joy in learning is celebrated. Whether it’s guiding a nature walk, comforting a struggling student, or jumping in to support a colleague without hesitation, Chelse leads with heart, humility, and a true team spirit. We are incredibly fortunate to have her as part of our Woodland Campus family—she is not only a gifted teacher but also a role model of kindness, dedication, and lifelong learning.

Innovation: It is with great enthusiasm that I highlight the exceptional work of Chelse Taylor, a newly assigned educator in our Federal Setting IV program this year. Although new to the program, Chelse has displayed remarkable professionalism, compassion, and innovation from the very first day. In a role that demands emotional intelligence, patience, and deep instructional insight, she has created a classroom environment where students with significant needs are not only supported but thriving.

What sets Chelse apart is her ability to purposefully explore creative solutions—the very definition of innovation in our district. She has designed engaging, multi-sensory lessons that build in both academic content and essential social-emotional skills, meeting students exactly where they are. She seemlessly uses digital tools like interactive whiteboards, self-paced learning platforms, and visual schedules with old-school hard copy books. Through her thoughtful integration of technology, students who once struggled to engage are now actively participating and making measurable academic progress.

Through her work, Chelse has transformed her classroom into a safe, structured, and student-centered learning environment. Her commitment to innovation, paired with deep empathy and instructional skills, has set a new standard in our Setting IV programming. She is not only impacting the students in her care but elevating the practices of the entire team around her. We are proud and grateful to have her as a leader, learner, and innovator within our district.

Effective Leadership: Chelse has demonstrated outstanding leadership in using technology to enhance learning and accessibility for students in our Federal Setting IV program. Understanding the unique needs of her students, she has purposefully integrated tech tools to personalize instruction and support student regulation, engagement, and independence. Chelse led the implementation of visual scheduling tools, followed by the implementation of boards and token boards. She also uses adaptive learning platforms like Unique and IXL, allowing her to tailor academic content to individual student needs while collecting real-time data to inform instruction. Her efforts have expanded access, increased consistency in instruction, and promoted student success through the intentional, innovative use of technology. Chelse’s leadership has empowered her team and given her students new ways to engage meaningfully with their education.

Building Community: Chelse has gone above and beyond in building a strong sense of community within her classroom and across the Cambridge-Isanti district. From the start, she has worked in close partnership with families, regularly communicating through text, email, and individualized check-ins to ensure parents feel connected to their child’s progress and empowered as part of the learning team. She brings that same intentionality to her collaboration with staff—sharing innovative behavior supports, visuals, and communication strategies that have created greater consistency across settings.

To foster unity across buildings, Chelse has participated in cross-site conversations with other special education teams, modeling how innovative, student-centered practices can be applied in various instructional environments. Her openness, humility, and focus on what's best for students have made her a respected voice among her peers. The processes she uses—inviting others to observe her classroom, sharing student success stories, and providing ready-to-use resources—has been simple but powerful. It's a replicable model of leadership grounded in relationships and practical application. Chelse’s commitment to partnership and innovation has strengthened the bridge between families, educators, and district leadership—bringing to life the mission of meeting each student’s unique needs through a truly unified community. Every student, Every Day isn't just a catchphrase - Chelse lives it and her students feel it.

Impact on Learning: Chelse’s impact on student learning has been extraordinary. In her Federal Setting IV classroom, she has created a culture where every student feels seen, valued, and capable of growth. One of her most powerful practices is selecting books based on student interests—whether it’s dinosaurs, sports, or superheroes—which immediately draws reluctant readers into the learning process. By centering on student voice and choice, she has made literacy not just accessible, but exciting. Chelse also brings energy and creativity into foundational skill-building, turning sight word practice into interactive games and multi-sensory experiences that stick with students well beyond the lesson.

Perhaps most impressively, Chelse engages in ongoing, meaningful conversations with her students that deepen their sense of connection and self-worth. These daily interactions create a safe space for students to take academic risks, reflect on their progress, and build the confidence they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Chelse has raised the bar for what inclusive, responsive teaching looks like, and the result is a tangible, measurable increase in student motivation, participation, and academic growth.

Introduction: Kellie is a dedicated and innovative educator who consistently goes above and beyond to support both her students and colleagues. Known for her creativity, strong leadership, and student-centered approach, she brings energy and thoughtfulness to everything she does. Whether she's designing engaging lessons, mentoring fellow teachers, or building meaningful relationships with students, Kellie leads with heart and purpose. Her work has a lasting impact on those around her and reflects the very best of what teaching can be.

Innovation: Each week, Kellie creates a lesson video that walks students through what they need to know and do, in a way that’s both easy to follow and enjoyable to watch. Her slide shows are not only beautifully designed but also guide students step-by-step through the material, making learning feel more manageable and fun.

Effective Leadership: Kellie is a great leader among both in-person and online teachers. Others often look to her for ideas and support because of her creativity, strong planning, and willingness to try new things. She’s always happy to share what works and help other teachers grow.

Building Community: Kellie understands and supports the unique needs of each student. Whether it's offering extra help, adjusting assignments, or finding creative ways to keep students engaged, she always puts their success first. She starts the year by building relationships with the students. She treats them with respect, and they treat her with respect. She also takes time to listen to her students. Her thoughtful, personalized approach helps every student feel seen, supported, and valued.

Impact on Learning: Students thrive in Kellie’s class because of the strong, positive relationships she builds and the thoughtful, engaging lessons she designs. Her students are motivated to work hard, not just to succeed, but because they genuinely enjoy learning with her. She helps them see the value and purpose of their education, making learning meaningful and exciting. The way Kellie teaches is truly inspiring and serves as a model for educators everywhere.

Introduction: Laura Knight is a dedicated 5th grade teacher at C-I STEAM School, whose innovation and leadership are instrumental at IIS/STEAM. As a BILT member and lifelong learner, she continues to grow professionally, attending ISTE and Project-Based Learning training this year.

Mrs. Knight integrates technology with purpose. She leads by example and shares strategies with colleagues. Her work has increased student access, engagement, and achievement, making her classroom a model of personalized, future-ready learning.

Innovation: Mrs. Laura Knight exemplifies innovation through her purposeful integration of technology to improve classroom instruction, teacher training, and student engagement. She designs custom lesson videos tailored to student needs, ensuring content is accessible and relevant. By using AI tools to modify and create differentiated assignments, she addresses the diverse learning styles and abilities within her classroom. Her use of gamification platforms like Blooket, digital breakouts, and Prodigy enhances motivation and reinforces learning in interactive ways.

Mrs. Knight's instructional accomplishments extend to her use of online tools like quizzes and polls to gather immediate feedback, enabling her to adapt lessons in real-time. She employs podcasts and audiobooks to support varied reading levels and leads research-based projects such as student-created Google Slide presentations on historical explorers. These strategies improve student ownership of learning while embedding technology in meaningful contexts.

Her vision also includes expanding the use of coding tools like Kodable and Spheros in the STEAM curriculum and using AI to help students become creators, not just consumers, of digital content. These innovations have increased access, engagement, and individualized learning opportunities for her students.

Effective Leadership: Mrs. Knight demonstrates effective leadership through her proactive use of educational technology and her support for others in adopting similar strategies. She models best practices in technology integration, inspiring both students and fellow educators. Her use of digital communication platforms like email and Skyward fosters consistent and transparent engagement with families, setting a standard for effective home-school collaboration.

Her commitment to deepening her technological knowledge reflects a growth mindset that encourages others to pursue continuous improvement. As she expands her expertise in coding and AI, she is not only improving her instruction but also laying the groundwork for school-wide advancements in STEAM education. Her classroom serves as a model of innovation and leadership in the use of technology for increased student accessibility and opportunity

Building Community: Mrs. Knight actively builds community by sharing her technological innovations with students, parents, and colleagues. She utilizes platforms such as Skyward to communicate student progress and class updates with families, creating a transparent and collaborative learning environment. Her projects, like student-led Google Slide presentations, often involve students sharing their work with parents and peers, strengthening the home-school connection.

Changes at the school, such as the increased use of coding tools and gamification strategies, reflect Mrs. Knight’s influence and leadership. These initiatives are becoming integrated into the STEAM program, enhancing student engagement across disciplines. The process she models—experimenting with tools, gathering student feedback, and sharing results—can be replicated in other districts seeking to build a unified and innovative community focused on personalized learning.

Impact on Learning: The impact of Mrs. Knight’s work is clear in the increased engagement, accessibility, and academic performance of her students. By leveraging AI, gamification, and multimedia tools, she creates an inclusive learning environment where students can access content in multiple formats and demonstrate understanding in diverse ways.

For example, differentiated reading through audiobooks and real-time feedback via online quizzes help students stay on track and feel supported in their learning. Her research-based projects cultivate critical thinking and digital literacy, while coding activities introduce students to foundational STEAM skills.

The lasting result is a classroom culture where students are empowered, instruction is responsive, and learning is personalized. These outcomes reflect Mrs. Knight’s commitment to excellence and her significant impact on educational innovation within the district.

Introduction: Amber Vogl, a second-year math teacher at Isanti Middle School. She has risen to the many curveballs teaching in the middle school setting might throw at her. She works hard to ensure all of her students are engaged and learning. In Ms. Vogl’s classroom, students feel seen, welcome, and included. Ms. Vogl is constantly looking for new ways to improve her teaching, is innovative, and when she receives feedback, she immediately looks for ways to incorporate it within her lesson. Ms. Vogl is a true Bluejacket and I am honored to nominate her for the Educator of Excellence Award. Thank you for all you do for our students Ms. Vogl!

Innovation: Amber is extremely flexible and loves trying new things for the betterment of our students. She utilizes her tech in a way that is interactive for students and keeps them engaged. Her lessons are constantly changing to meet the needs of our students.

Effective Leadership: Amber is one of the few teachers left with a SmartBoard, but she engages students with its use. She understands the opportunity it provides. Each day, Amber utilizes her Smart Board to post workable items for students, her agenda, and lesson activities. It is well integrated into her classroom.

Building Community: Amber collaborates with teachers, students, and family members to ensure all students are getting what they need. Within the classroom, students work well together to ensure all succeed.

Impact on Learning: Students have remained within the classroom because Amber understands the unique needs of middle school students. They understand the challenges of math but I have seen firsthand how engaged students are within her classroom.

Introduction: It's not often in my work with many transportation departments across the state and in many school districts as well that you run into a human being with such a broad-spectrum skill set for her position and almost every other position in the department. Boundless energy combined with consistency, deep knowledge, and dedication: that's what directors in all departments vie for. If it’s true that a core necessity in the K-12 education world is the transportation of our most precious commodities safely and efficiently, then the staff who creates, evolves, supports, and manages this task has an educational impact that is hard to estimate. A strong knowledge of all applications - computer applications, the Skyward information system, and our varied transportation software, is a necessity. Kerri Schibilla is that staff person. And thank goodness this Bluejacket community has her!

Innovation: Because we are in Transportation, her accomplishments for the district come from the vast knowledge achieved over a variety of positions she has held in the district. She is well-educated in many of the programs utilized in our department and is responsible for training staff and drivers on district programs as well as programs unique to Transportation - our Zonar GPS program, our fuel system software, and our routing software, Versa Trans, to name a few. She has been involved with the behind-the-scenes Skyward program development for 26 years. She has been involved in designing coding for discipline, family access, building communication and contact setup, auto email, and messaging, and importing and exporting data.

Effective Leadership: All of these aforementioned engagements affect all students and many staff in the district. She sits on the Skyward Advisory Committee. She helped develop an efficient way to import data into Skyward for staff and parents. This includes bus schedules for parents and Transportation codes for reimbursement. Also, I would point to her elite abilities in exporting student data into VersTrans to keep up-to-date records including emergency contacts as a significant weekly benefit to the district.

Building Community: Importing and exporting could be replicated, which would help districts keep more accurate records.

Allowing parents to have up-to-date information that is easily accessible on our website and in Skyward regarding Transportation has improved our relationship with parents. This includes forms, safety training, and bus schedule information.

Impact on Learning: The positive impact on parents in being able to easily access their transportation information as stated above is invaluable. Kerri's work in developing a 2 Tier Transportation System with our transportation software has created a consistent and stable transportation system for the community over the past few years. The cost efficiencies have been proven and documented by the district's finance department.

Email: dist-communications@c-ischools.org
Website: c-ischools.org
Location: 625a Main Street North, Cambridge, MN, USA
Phone: 7636896188