(Lake Park)– Formal recognition was given this (Thurs.) morning to a teacher in the Harris-Lake Park Community Schools.
As we reported previously, Kristi Mentink, a Kindergarten teacher at HLP, was named 2025 Teacher of The Year for the Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency. She was given a special certificate in honor of the recognition at an assembly this (Thurs.) morning at the Harris-Lake Park Elementary School…
“Just being nominated was a shock and again, I’ve talked for 29 years and I truly love what I do so I was surprised but I decided to move forward and with that I wasn’t just nominated. I had to get letters of recommendation, I had to do a resume, I had to answer questions and so I had to decide if I was going to pursue it and I decided to, so.”
Mentink is among nine finalists in the running for 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year…
“That would be quite the honor and regardless of whatever happens I’m proud of this and I’m going to keep doing what I do every day: just teach. And whoever is awarded that, they have a big job ahead of them.”
Mentink has been in education nearly 30 years. She tells KUOO news she finds it very fulfilling…
“I teach the littles and so for me when they’ve mastered something that light bulb goes off and you can see the excitement. They still want to learn and that truly makes me happy.”
Members of Mentink’s family were also on hand for this (Thurs.) morning’s ceremony.
Photo L to R: Dan Mart, Prairie Lakes Area Education Association; Kristi Mintenk, HLP Kindergarten teacher & Prairie Lakes AEA Teacher Of The Year for 2025; Rebecca Matthiesen, HLP Elementary Principal; and Mike Thompson, HLP Superintendent.
