Coudron picked Owatonna’s top teacher
Katie Coudron has been named Owatonna’s Teacher of the Year.
A veteran language arts teacher in Owatonna has been named the district’s Teacher of the Year.
Katie Coudron, who teaches at Owatonna Middle School and Owatonna High School, was awarded the honor at the Owatonna Education Association banquet May 8.
Coudron is originally from Wausau, Wis. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and 5-8 language arts from St. Benedict/St. John’s University and her master’s degree in teaching and learning from St. Mary’s University.
The top educator has been teaching at Owatonna Middle School since 2004. She has taught both seventh and eighth grade English. As a member of the Teaching and Learning Team, she was a supervisor for Minnesota State University-Mankato student teachers and was a 6-8 Teaching and Learning Coach. She returned to the classroom in 2020 to teach eighth grade English at OMS and Introduction to Education (MSU-Mankato concurrent enrollment) at OHS.
Coudron serves on the District Staff Development Team, OHS Equity Team, and the Minnesota Educator Partnership "Grow Your Own" grant team.
"I feel extremely honored and humbled to be selected as Owatonna's Teacher of the Year,” said Coudron. “I am surrounded by amazing educators who show up day-in and day-out for our students and for each other. It is a privilege to teach, and I feel extremely grateful to be part of so many students' education journey."
Owatonna Education Association has over 350 members who nominate and vote annually for the Teacher of the Year.
There were four other finalists: Heather Bae, Liza Drever, Ray Heinz and Kristi Rohman.