MELA recognizes and elevates hardworking professionals diligently educating our children.

2024 MELA nominations have closed, and the award committee has been hard at work. Watch for winner announcements soon!

The Minneapolis Educator Leadership Awards (MELA) were created to recognize Title I Minneapolis Public School District educators, principals, paraprofessionals, and support staff working consistently with students in a school, for their leadership outside their classroom or defined job duties. We intend to recognize and elevate hardworking professionals diligently educating our children, who often do not get the credit they deserve. (PLEASE NOTE: If you are having trouble with the form above, please email your nomination to Angel Jennings at ajennings@achievetwincities.org.)

The MELA nomination and selection process is entirely teacher driven. Candidates for the award are nominated by their peers, students, parents, or anyone who admires their work as educators. Finalists are selected by a committee of teachers, administrators, and support staff actively working in the Minneapolis public school district.

The award comes with the responsibility of completing a proposal with AchieveMpls for up to $10,000 in funding for a one- or two-year grant to improve the nominee’s school. The committee awards up to $75,000 in grants annually.

Nominations

The committee reviews nominations annually. Educators must be nominated by a peer. All identifying information is removed from nominations before being reviewed. Committee members who have a relationship with a nominee are prohibited from reviewing that nominee’s nomination.

Finalists

To receive a MELA award, finalists chosen by the MELA committee must submit and commit to a proposal to make an impact in their school community.

Award Reception

An award reception will be held to honor recipients with their principal, school district administrators, and elected officials. Each award winner will be recognized for their outstanding work. The reception will also highlight recipients’ grant-funded projects.

Implementation

In accepting the Minneapolis Educator Leadership Award, each recipient agrees to use the funds as described in their submitted proposal. The Graves Family Foundation will check in throughout the school year with award recipients to demonstrate their grant-funded program’s success. Updates will be shared with the greater Minneapolis community through this website.

2023 MELA Winners

  1. Andrew Molle, Transition Plus, Community & Conversation through Gaming

  2. Phebe Carr, Lucy Laney, History Makers

  3. Katherine McNamee, Lucy Laney, Can I play?

  4. Sara Van Hoy, Las Estrellas Dual Language School, Grow, Play, Learn! Outdoor Learning Space at Las Estrellas

  5. Anna Lehn, Ella Baker Global Studies and Humanities Magnet, Embodied Learning: Interactive Global Competency Launch Day

  6. Jason Jirsa, Washburn High School, Model United Nations for All

  7. Shannon McGuire, Northeast Middle School, Safety Measure First and Performing Fun

  8. Christopher Michael, Patrick Henry High School, Henry Drama Club’s 2023 – 2024 Season

  9. Sharon White. Longfellow High School, Longfellow Student Leaders Dare to Be Real

  10. Rachel Stewart, Hall STEM Academy, Physical Education Matters @ Hall STEM Academy