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Mahtomedi High School honors Jim Lane as Teacher of the Year
Summary
Jim Lane, a 13-year teacher at Mahtomedi High School, was recognized as the district's Teacher of the Year for his work in life sciences, engineering courses and multiple student clubs; students and colleagues lauded his mentorship and community engagement.
The Mahtomedi School Board recognized Jim Lane as the district Teacher of the Year at the Oct. 27 meeting, highlighting his contributions in the classroom and community.
Board presenter (identified in the transcript as the teacher-of-the-year committee representative) described Lane's 13 years at Mahtomedi High School teaching life science and engineering courses including biology, field ecology, biomimicry and engineering. The presenter noted Lane's role advising the MAPS team, EcoClub, Ethical Debate Club, the Power Walking Club and student leadership for nine years. The presenter also said Lane was recognized by the National Association of Biology Teachers as an outstanding Minnesota biology teacher and has presented at national and international venues.
The presenter read a passage from Lane's written teaching philosophy: "The greatest honor of teaching is the opportunity to inspire and rekindle a sense of wonder and amazement in others. Teachers must develop deep relationships with their students and have a deep understanding of themselves to find success." The presenter said Lane encourages reflection, connection, empathy and curiosity in students and colleagues.
Student Julian Chisek, a senior, gave a short testimonial. "My freshman year, [Lane] was my teacher for my freshman year biology class, and I got to experience his firsthand his unique teaching methods that focus more on the actual learning that students undergo rather than just points in a grade book," Chisek said. He described Lane's advisory work and club support and noted Lane's community volunteer work, including removing buckthorn at a local park.
Colleagues and board members praised Lane's ability to prepare students for presentations, noted his mentorship of MAPS students in grant writing, and said his teaching invites students to take intellectual risks. The board presented Lane with a recognition certificate and paused for photographs.
Why it matters: The recognition highlights district instructional leadership and community engagement by a long-serving teacher; the presentation also underscored student opportunities such as MAPS that include grant writing and public presentations.
