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Leadership
        Page 14                                                                                                Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaywi.com


                Megan Sipiorski Named 2025 Wisconsin High School Social Studies


                Teacher of the Year

                                            honored as the 2025  Wisconsin High   earned this prestigious recognition to   presented  annually  to  a  full-time  high
                                            School  Social  Studies  Teacher  of  the   highlight the impact she’s making at   school social studies educator who dem-
                                            Year by the  Wisconsin Council for the   Middleton High School. This honor also   onstrates excellence in the classroom
                                            Social Studies (WCSS)!              enables educators and students beyond   and is recognized by colleagues for their
                                                Ms. Sipiorski is being recognized   our District to learn from her wonderful   outstanding teaching. It honors educa-
                                            for her exceptional work in social   work.”                            tors  who  foster  inquiry, inspire student
                                            studies education, particularly with her   “What sets Ms. Sipiorski apart is her   engagement, and continuously seek to
                                            innovative approach to simulation-based   ability to create an environment where   improve their knowledge and skills in
                                            experiential learning through the Leg-  civil discourse flourishes,” said Sarah   social studies instruction.
                                            islative Semester program. Through the   Kopplin, WCSS president. “She teaches   The  Wisconsin Council for the
                                            program, Ms. Sipiorski immerses her   her students not only the importance of   Social Studies is committed to enhanc-
                                            students in the legislative process, allow-  disagreement in democracy, but also the   ing social studies education at the K-12
                                            ing them to experience firsthand how   tools to navigate these disagreements   level by offering resources, networking
                                            government operates and the critical role   with  respect  and  understanding.  In  her   opportunities, and recognitions like the
                                            citizens play in shaping public policy.  classroom, students are encouraged to   Teacher of the Year award.
                                                In addition to teaching social studies,   engage in thoughtful dialogue, listen to
                                            Ms. Sipiorski serves as the advisor for   diverse perspectives, and debate ideas in
                                            Middleton High School’s Model United   a manner that promotes mutual respect,
                                            Nations club.                       even when opinions differ. This approach   www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us
        Middleton-Cross Plains Area School      “Megan’s passion for education and   fosters a culture of inclusivity and open-
        District                            dedication to her students is inspiring,”   ness, ensuring that every student feels
            Congratulations to Middleton High   said Middleton High School Principal   valued and heard.”
        School teacher Megan Sipiorski on being   Peg Shoemaker. “I’m thrilled she has   The  Teacher of the  Year award is



                        Global Educator of the Year Travels to Morocco; Inspires Students


                                                         This  year,  for  the  first  time,  the   self-nomination is also an option so   them have more confidence in what they
                                                     study abroad company CIEE invited the   teachers who are making great efforts to   can accomplish.”
                                                     Wisconsin Global Educator of the Year   bring globally-focused teaching to their   One way to measure that impact?
                                                     award winner to go and observe        classrooms and schools can also   Student success. This year, four of Resch
                                                     one of their high school                 go that route. The application   Brownell’s Global Scholars students
                                                     study abroad programs.                     process is very self-reflec-  received the statewide recognition of the
                                                     Jodi Resch Brownell,                         tive  and  makes  you   DPI’s Certificate of Global Competence.
                                                     Spanish educator and                         realize all of the ways   This year, statewide the DPI issued 241
                                                     2023–2024   Global                            your teaching connects   certificates, awarded in 40 districts.
                                                     Educator of the  Year                         kids to the world.”    And Resch Brownell continues
                                                     from   School  Dis-                              The      Global  to develop her and her students’ global
                                                     trict of Crandon, was                        Scholars   program,  competencies.  Working with several
                                                     thrilled to be able to                       which Resch Brownell   university professors, she  is trying to
                                                     travel to Rabat, Morocco,                  brought to Crandon, is an   bring more international and intercul-
                                                     to see two of CIEE’s incred-             important vehicle for  Wis-  tural  virtual  exchanges  to  classrooms
                                                     ible programs in action. “We          consin schools to help students   through the COIL Rural CommuniTIES
                                                     were able to learn a lot about Moroccan   reach the four internationally recognized   project. “If more classrooms engage in
                                                     culture, including a visit to the Hassan   dimensions of global competence:  these no-cost experiences for students,
                                                     II Mosque, an  Ashura celebration, a     1.   Knowledge of local, global, and   it will build global bridges for kids of
                                                     home visit, and plenty of interactions   intercultural issues    all ages and they will grow up knowing
                                                     with the students in the program. I was     2.   Respect for diverse perspectives   so much more about other countries and
                                                     so impressed with their program that I   and worldviews          cultures,” she said. She is also part of the
                                                     am now trying to encourage my own     3.   Effective intercultural interaction   inaugural cohort of the Stevens Initia-
                                                     students to do a summer study abroad,”                           tive’s Global Champions, a group that is
                                                     Resch Brownell said.                  and communication          promoting virtual exchange worldwide.
                                                         Resch Brownell was nominated for     4.   Actions to improve conditions   The Global Educator of the  Year
                                                     the award by former Global Educator   and collective well-being  Award isn’t just an accolade or a prize.
                                                     of the Year, Danielle Chaussee. Resch   Crandon is the smallest school thus   For Resch Brownell, it’s a confirmation
                                                     Brownell  reflected  on  the  nomination   far participating in the Global Scholars   of the importance of global education
                                                     and how it has informed her teaching.   program, and Resch Brownell thinks it’s   for all students. “I hope that they travel
        2023 Wisconsin Global Educator of the Year, Jodi   “As teachers, we need to do better at   important that, “our students... [get] to   to new places and are good ambassa-
        Resch Brownell on her visit to the Hassan II Mosque in   lifting  up  others  and  nominating  col-  see that people from rural areas can win
        Casablanca, Morocco. Photo: Jodi Resch Brownell.
                                                     leagues for such awards. However,   statewide awards like this and it makes
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