Sue Buysse (left) and Robin Traen (right).

Sue Buysse chosen Teacher of the year; Robin Traen named Friend of Education

Sue Buysse has been selected Minneota Teacher of the Year, while Robin Boe Traen was named the Friend of Education recipient for the 2017-18 school year by the Minneota Education Minnesota Organization.

Buysse and Traen will be honored at a banquet with other winners from southwestern Minnesota school districts on May 2 at Key Largo on Lake Shetek near Slayton.

Buysse was told of her honor by MEMO co-presidents John Voit and Heather Webkowski. Voit will present both Buysse and Traen at the banquet.

“I’m humbled by this recognition because there are so many deserving educators at our school,” said Buysse, who has been an elementary teacher in Minneota for the past 27 years.

“Minneota Public Schools have so many teachers and staff members that go above and beyond what is in their job description.”

Buysse, who was born and raised in Minneota, started her career as a Kindergarten/ECFE instructor for one year. She then taught third grade for 23 years and has taught second grade over the past three years.

“Second graders are always willing to learn new things and be adventurous,” Buysse said.

“The best part is helping students become more confident in their reading abilities and their math skills.”

Traen was honored for her service to the school as a Paraprofessional; mainly working with elementary teachers and students. The teachers also vote on the Friendship of Education award.

“It was a very nice honor,” said Traen, humbly.

“I didn’t know I had won until the teachers were congratulating me at school on Friday.”

Buysse knew this was her chosen profession when she taught summer lessons while in high school. “I realized then that I enjoyed working with kids,” she said. “This led me to inquiring about having some ‘practice’ of working with students during the school day.”

Buysse then began as a teacher assistant/independent study at Minneota High School. “I remember working with Mr. Stan Miller in the Science Department. It was my job to help a handful of students from seventh grade science class. I reviewed the content during their study hall and helped them prepare for class.” Buysse was hooked on teaching after that.

“I thoroughly enjoyed that part of my day and that experience cemented the idea that teaching would be the right profession for me,” she noted. Administrators recognize Buysse’s dedicated service to the school. “Sue is the pinnacle professional,” said Elementary Principal Jen Mahan-Deitte.

“She is trusted by the staff and is viewed as a strong advocate for students and their learning.”

“During the years I’ve worked with Sue, I’ve found her to be a very conscientious instructor. She has repeatedly demonstrated how exceptionally patient she is. She’s also been extremely reflective – often searching for new approaches that will improve the students’ understanding of the content she is teaching.”

Buysse recalls that there were also two others that inspired her to enter the education field.

“My Aunt Helen McGuire and Jim Rolbiecki, who was my History teacher and softball coach,” she revealed.

“Mr. Rolbiecki always brought excitement to the classroom and was interested in all of his student/athletes.” Buysse also coached volleyball at the junior high, C-squad and B-squad levels under varsity coach Sandi Smith. Buysse has taught a few second-generation students.

“That is a lot of fun, too,” she laughed. “That history brings a whole new dimension to Parent/Teacher conferences.” Educators must also wear many hats besides just that as a teacher. And Buysse is no exception. “As an elementary teacher your day is spent not only with academics,” she said, “but also as a nurse, parent, counselor, referee, a seamstress, and most importantly, as a listener.” Buysse estimates she has taught or coached well over 500 students at Minneota and enjoys it when she runs into her former students. “It’s a joy when these now-adults stop me on the street, contact me through social media, or return to the area to raise their families,” she said. “I keep all the old annuals and reference them from time to time to connect past with the present.” Through her years of teaching, the profession has changed dramatically. “Our technology in 1991 included the ditto machines, an overhead projector, and the intercom system,” she said.

“There were no classroom phones, no email, no iPads, and no Google docs.”

And state testing has also changed during her tenure. “With the mandate of the state tests, unfortunately schools are judged by their students’ test results,” she explained. “This mandate has resulted in a stronger focus for grade-level standards and curriculum alignment to these standards.”

“However, the pressure on teachers and students to perform well on these tests is a serious issue. An issue that was not present when I first started teaching.”

Buysse and her husband Tim have been married for 28 years. Tim works in the English department through Minnesota West Community Colleges and SMSU. They have three children; Hannah, Sam and Gretta.

In her spare time, Buysse enjoys hanging out with family, walking, visiting with friends, summer farm/house projects, reading, and scoping out local garage sales for classroom items and/or books.

“I also like visiting the Minnesota State Parks,” she noted.

“We have visited all 71 of them.” Traen has been a Paraprofessional for three years in Minneota, where she also grew up and attended school. “Robin has been an exceptional contributor to the district,” said Mahan-Deitte.

“I appreciate how accommodating and friendly she is, even with frequent changes that often occur during a school day.”

“Robin sees a need and steps forward without hesitation. Aside from her optimistic and positive disposition, she is also well received by her students. She goes above and beyond with regard to helping anyone who needs it.”

That positive approach to assisting teachers and students generates from a genuine enjoyment of her duties.

“I love what I do,” she said. “I enjoy working with the administration, teachers, my co-workers and the kids.”

“People really don’t realize what these teachers do. They use their own money to purchase supplies and things for the kids all the time. So I was honored to be voted on by the teachers.”

Traen and her husband Steve have two children, Jacob (spouse Bridget) and Faith, a sophomore at Minneota, plus two grandchildren.

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