St. Paul teacher named Minn.’s Teacher of the Year

Published 10:11 am Monday, May 4, 2015

BLOOMINGTON — A St. Paul high school teacher who teaches writing and English to immigrant students has been named Minnesota’s 2015 Teacher of the Year.

Amy Hewett-Olatunde was announced Sunday as the 51st winner of the award. She is the fourth Minnesota Teacher of the Year from the St. Paul district.

Hewett-Olatunde teaches students at LEAP High School in St. Paul. The school enrolls students up to age 20 who are new arrivals to the U.S. and are not native English speakers.

Email newsletter signup

She calls the award an honor and says she is “very humbled” and excited.

Hewett-Olatunde has taught at LEAP High School since 1999. She recently received her doctorate in education from Hamline University.

Education Minnesota, the statewide teachers union, organizes and underwrites the Teacher of the Year program.