Introducing the Teacher’s Breakfast, Keith Payne welcomed all in attendance and shared some Rotary wisdom. He paralleled Rotary’s mission to put service above self with the fantastic work of teachers putting their service above themselves in the classroom. 

 

Next in the program was the keynote speaker, with a suitable aptronym, two-time teacher of the year Eric Songer. Teaching at Chaska Middle School West, this beloved band teacher has come up with fun, adaptive ways to keep his students engaged in his classes. Going back to the 80s, Songer began his ways of getting his fellow classmates involved in his music interests. By publishing a weekly magazine, detailing all things about the newest hit songs, the then-8th grader had become a sensation around school through his interest in music. Fast-forwarding to his college years, Songer decided to share some wisdom from one of his college professors. In an educational psychology course, his professor at the time had managed to take his students’ focus off grades to intrinsically motivate them to learn the course. By simply having them participate in discussions at the start of every class, Songer and his peers found a high amount of motivation to do coursework and reading outside of the classroom. In his recent run of online school teaching, Songer decided to go to each of his students' homes. By performing music right at their doorsteps, he made a memory that will last a lifetime for each and every one of his kids.

 

Lastly, Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams finished off the morning by introducing her Cabinet and then each building’s principal. Each principal would then have the honor of introducing the new staff members of their school. From Jonathan Elementary to Chaska High School, a wide range of eager teachers will start their teaching journeys on Tuesday, September 7th. After the introductions were finished, eight winners to a $25 Target gift card were announced for them to use in their classrooms.