Dakota County Educator Wins 2019 Minnesota Teacher Of The Year

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — Jessica Davis, a math teacher at South St. Paul Secondary School, is the 2019 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Davis is the 55th recipient of the award, and the first from the South St. Paul district.

“Every student deserves to be empowered by their own voice and elevated to their highest potential,” Davis said in a statement. “Most important, they deserve educators who want the same.”

“One measure a person can use when judging another is, would you trust your own children with this person?” wrote Luke V. Olson, a colleague at South St. Paul Secondary, in a letter of recommendation for Davis.

“When my son was studying to become a teacher, he needed a mentor teacher, and asked me for advice…. I suggested Jess, because she exemplifies everything that I hope my son would become as a teacher.”

Davis has been teaching since 2006, first at Harding High School in St. Paul and since 2009 at South St. Paul. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the Minnesota State, Mankato, and a master’s degree from Hamline University, according to a news release.

An independent selection committee representing Minnesota leaders in education, business and government chooses the Minnesota Teacher of the Year from individuals who are nominated and who then choose to become a candidate.