WILLISTON, N.D. (KUMV) – The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction has named 49 teachers from 48 counties County Teachers of the Year. They were nominated by their peers and scored by a committee of education professionals. KUMV-TV’s Michael Anthony had a chance to speak with the winners in the northwest part of the state.

Williams County – Kari Hall, Williston High School

Kari Hall is a social studies teacher at Williston High School and has been educating students for 25 years. Her classes include U.S. History, Psychology, and a Holocaust class that she started about five years ago.

“I’m a tough teacher. I’m not always a fun and games teacher. I have expectations and sometimes that’s hard, but in the long run I hope my students realize that I’m prepping them for the real world,” said Hall.

As a struggling learner herself, Hall says she became a teacher to better help others.

“I remember when I figured it out, that learning could happen for anyone, so I always investigated that possibility of how a student and a teacher can work together,” said Hall.

When asked about winning the county teacher of the year award, Hall credits the people who helped her develop as an instructor.

“It takes an army to build a teacher,” Hall said.

Hall says her hope for her students once they leave her class is that they become somewhat knowledgeable about the world around them.

“If they don’t learn about history, they may never learn about it. If they don’t learn about psychological disorders, they may not understand their neighbor next door. Everything we teach in school, it may not seem like it, but it is part of how you function in life,” said Hall.

Hall says teachers face many challenges, but she remains dedicated to her profession.

“I think teaching is a calling. You don’t give up when it’s hard, you figure out how to do it well because the students still need you. My 25 years at Williston High School, I’ve never thought about leaving my career… I’m dedicated to what this is,” said Hall.

Hall was selected from a crowded field. The department of public instruction says 166 teachers were nominated from Williams County. That’s nearly half of the total nominations across the state.

McKenzie County – Tiffany Olson, Fox Hills Elementary

Tiffany Olson is a fourth-grade math teacher at Fox Hills Elementary. The Watford City native has 32 years’ experience teaching, with the last five being back in her hometown.

“My daughter also teaches here at Fox Hills, so it’s awesome. It’s a different community than when I grew up here, but I love it,” said Olson.

The elementary became departmentalized this year, meaning Olson exclusively teaches math to nearly 100 students every day.

“I love math, so it’s pretty awesome,” said Olson.

Olson says she became a teacher because she loves to work with children.

“I teach because I love to be around students. I love kids. It’s pretty awesome to watch them learn new things and watch them grow throughout the school year. I love building relationships with them, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else,” said Olson.

While she hopes her students leave her class with better math skills, she also hopes they learn it’s okay to make mistakes.

“I just want them to try their hardest and making mistakes is learning. We’re going to make mistakes in math, I made a mistake, and they called me out on it, and I love it. That’s a part of learning,” said Olson.

Olson says she appreciates the recognition but notes that all teachers work hard.

Divide County – Rayme Haggin, Divide County Elementary

Rayme Haggin teaches second grade at Divide County Elementary School in Crosby. She moved to Crosby from Minot 14 years ago to begin her career.

“My original plan was to come here for a year or two and feel it out before heading back to the city, but I love it here so much. I love the accepting community; I love the students here and my co-workers. It’s awesome up here, I love it,” said Haggin.

Haggin says her class has a lot of fun, but they also get a lot of work done too.

“I try to keep them busy moving, and then give them some work. I help them learn and just become the best version of themselves they can possibly be,” said Haggin.

Haggin says this job is all about supporting her students.

“I love working with the kids. I know that’s a cliché answer, but I can’t picture doing anything else every day for the rest of my life. I have been having a lot of fun,” said Haggin.

Haggin says her message to her students is that anything is possible if they put in the effort.

“I want them to know that I truly believe that they can do anything they want to do in life as long as they continue to work hard and be themselves,” said Haggin.

Haggin also spent a couple years teaching kindergarten.

The recipients of the award are eligible to apply for state Teacher of the Year honors. The winner will be named on September 27.

A list of all the teachers can be found here.

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