“These young learners need that caring touch to help them know that they matter. This has lifelong impacts on people. To feel included, important, and that they belong, will set the tone for successful emotional and human development. That starts with Kindergarten. That starts with me.”
Lisa Mathies, the 2023-24 Teacher of the Year at Mahtomedi Public Schools, is a beloved teacher and leader with a reputation for being an impactful mentor to others. The kindergarten team at Wildwood Elementary School describes her as “welcoming, kind, forward-thinking, and a leader who is respected by her team and her colleagues.”
Ms. Mathies has taught kindergarten at Mahtomedi Public Schools for 30 years. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Cloud State University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota. One of the education initiatives she is most proud of being a part of was being on the initial team of teachers who implemented full-day kindergarten at Mahtomedi Public Schools. She notes that receiving the Mahtomedi Teacher of the Year for 2023-24 has made her “feel valued and honored for the work I do.”
Building a solid academic and social-emotional foundation for students with a strong classroom community is key to Mathies’ teaching philosophy. “As a kindergarten teacher, I get to build a strong educational foundation for young minds, which is very rewarding,” she said. “It is a fulfilling job, and I love seeing the progress that each child makes throughout the year, both socially and 
academically.” Mathies sees building a positive classroom environment as a critical component of teaching. She shared, “To be effective at that, students need to feel accepted, cared for, and have a sense of belonging. Building relationships with my students is the key to being able to meet that need. This is something that I enjoy and our classroom reaps the benefits of it every day. When students feel like they have a connection with their teacher, it demonstrates to them that they are cared for, acknowledged, and an important part of our classroom.”
Mathies shared this about working at Mahtomedi Public Schools, “I feel blessed to work in a school district where the community is involved and supportive of the schools.”