Minnetonka Schools has announced the award honorees for the 2026 Celebration of Excellence awards, an annual districtwide awards program that honors several outstanding teachers, staff and community volunteers. The Celebration of Excellence awards event is presented by Minnetonka Public Schools, with the generous support of the Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation, which joins the program this year as a leading sponsor.

This year’s event is Thursday, May 14 from 6-8:30PM at the Arts Center at Minnetonka High School. It is free and open to the public and will also be live streamed on YouTube. (The link will be posted as the event approaches.) 

Congratulations to this year’s Celebration of Excellence award recipients:

MINNETONKA AWARDS FOR CHILD-CENTERED EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

• Samantha Miller, Early Childhood Special Ed Teacher, Minnetonka Preschool & ECFE
• Elizabeth Rodriguez, 4th Grade Spanish Immersion Teacher, Clear Springs Elementary
• Maura Devanie, Multilingual Learners Teacher, Deephaven Elementary
• Andrew Bauer, 4th Grade Teacher, Excelsior Elementary
• Jennifer Santamaria, 5th Grade Spanish Immersion Teacher, Groveland Elementary
• Kelly McCashin, 3rd Grade Teacher, Minnewashta Elementary
• Hui Yu, 2nd Grade Chinese Immersion Teacher, Scenic Heights Elementary
• Pati McConeghey, Language Arts Teacher, Minnetonka Middle School East
• Dan Chies, Technology Education Teacher, Minnetonka Middle School West
• Rebecca Johnson, Math Teacher, Minnetonka High School
• Aaron Kohrs, Choir Teacher, Minnetonka High School
• Steve Kangas, Special Education Teacher, S.A.I.L.

AWARD FOR CHILD-CENTERED EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING E-LEARNERS

• Caroline McCoy, Math Teacher, Tonka Online

MINNETONKA EMPLOYEE AWARDS FOR CHILD-CENTERED EXCELLENCE

• Mary Cornelius, Communications Specialist 
• Jack Hawkenson, Custodian, Minnetonka High School
• Briana Hunt, School Counselor, Minnetonka Preschool & ECFE
• Nikolas Jacobson, Program Supervisor, Minnetonka Community Education
• Erin Michael, Physical Therapist, Districtwide
• Elizabeth Morsching, Paraprofessional, Clear Springs Elementary
• Molly Keogh, Paraprofessional, Minnetonka High School
• Beth Scanlan, Head Office Assistant, Minnetonka High School
• Samantha Swenson, Director of Student Accounting, Data Management and Enrollment
• Dan Peso, Paraprofessional, Minnewashta Elementary
• Marta Prats Humbert, Paraprofessional, Minnewashta Elementary
• Thomas Ryan, Cook Helper, Minnetonka High School
• Carrie Voeltz, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and School Board
• Kyleen Waterhouse, Nurse, S.A.I.L. Transition Program
• Amanda Wavrin, School Counselor, Minnetonka High School

TEAM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN COLLABORATION

• The Harbor Program at Clear Springs Elementary
  (Chrissy Boberg, Jenna Dreschner, Karen Fee, Tara Fink, Mary Gofford, Habon Jamac, Darci James, Laura Johnson, Larissa Quist, Iren Tadevosyan)

COMMUNITY EDUCATION VOLUNTEER/BUSINESS PARTNER AWARDS

• Isabella Benz, ECFE/Preschool Volunteer of the Year
• Brent Augustine, Youth Programs Volunteer of the Year
• Randy Swenson, Adult Programs Volunteer of the Year
• Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office/Community Outreach and Public Affairs  

SPINNAKER AWARD

• Jess Dronen, Volunteer, Minnetonka Middle School West
• Sammi Gervais, Volunteer, Groveland Elementary
• Billy Hartong, Volunteer, Excelsior Elementary
• Thomas Jacob, Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation
• Marietta Jacobsen, President, Minnetonka Alumni Association
• Jennie Przybilla, Volunteer, Scenic Heights Elementary and MME
• Charlie Steingas, Citizen’s Finance Committee Member, Districtwide
• Stephanie Stiles, Volunteer, Clear Springs Elementary

VANTAGE GOLD PARTNER

• Kurt Schneider, President, Scale-Up Food Consulting 

MOMENTUM GOLD PARTNER

• Metropolitan Airports Commission 

BRADLEY G. BOARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

• To be announced soon!

JOYCE GUSTAFSON MEMORIAL AWARD

• To be announced soon!

JUDY ERDAHL MEMORIAL AWARD

• To be announced soon!

AWARDS ANNOUNCED ON MAY 14

• Employee Service Awards honoring 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years
• 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Nominees

If you have questions about the Celebration of Excellence program, please contact Dr. JacQui Getty, executive director of communications for Minnetonka Schools, at jacqui.getty@minnetonkaschools.org.