Winona Area Public Schools
The family of Kristi Conway surprised her after she was announced as the WEA Teacher of the Year on Friday at Washington-Kosciusko Elementary School. Conway has been a teacher for 30 years, the last 25 at Winona Area Public Schools. At left is her husband, Paul, and at right is daughter Carly.
Kristi Conway’s first teaching job was serving as a reading tutor in the educational research department at a clinic.
Thirty years later — including 25 in Winona Area Public Schools — Conway has taught students in grades K-3 and adapted her methods and strategies to fit the latest initiative or trend.
But some things are the same now as they were three decades ago.
“I have a lot of experience,” said Conway, a second-grade teacher at Washington-Kosciusko Elementary School. “I keep up with best practices, and try very hard to be current after many years of teaching, but in order for those things to translate into student success, I need every student to know that they are valued, and I care about them. Kids need that now more than ever.”
On Friday afternoon, in a gym full of the children that will forever have a piece of her heart, Conway was surprised with the 2020 Winona Education Association Teacher of the Year award.
“Mrs. Conway inspires her students to learn and grow,” said Amber Mlynczak, a former WEA Teacher of the Year who had two children go through Conway’s classroom and has a third currently in it. “She encourages imagination and creativity. She is caring and kind, and each student in her classroom knows that they are very important to her.”
Conway was nominated for the award by W-K kindergarten teacher Lisa Kulzer, who said that Conway pours hours into preparing lessons that are engaging and appropriate for all learners.
“She has a heart for children, and eagerly approaches each day with a calm, joyful disposition,” Kulzer said. “She has a wonderful sense of humor. Mrs. Conway is happy to help others and she is a lifelong learner who strives to be the best that she can be.”
Luke Merchlewitz speaks during a surprise ceremony awarding Kristi Conway with the WEA Teacher of the Year Award on Friday.
Luke Merchlewitz, another former WEA Teacher of the Year, has been working and laughing with Conway in second grade at W-K for “a long time.”
“When you work with wonderful people, you often feel wonderful about yourself and your school,” he said. “She has made me a better teacher.”
W-K principal Dawn Waller Lueck called Conway one of the school’s “super hero” teachers.
“She is a positive staff member who works extremely hard,” Lueck said. “She puts the needs of her students first, and she is creative in her instruction.”
Kelly Allington, a kindergarten teacher at W-K, said that Conway is warm, welcoming, supportive and so funny.
“I recently read a quote that said ‘You don’t inspire your teammates by showing them how amazing you are. You inspire them by showing them how amazing they are,’’ Allington said. “I immediately thought of Kristi, because it so embodies who she is as a colleague. She is an exceptionally talented teacher who is humble and kind.”
Kristi Conway, middle, poses for a photo with former WEA Teachers of the Year, from left, Dwayne Voegeli, Linda Pfeilsticker, Theresa Pearson and Amber Mlynczak.
Theresa Pearson, the 2019 WEA Teacher of the Year and a finalist for the state award, announced Conway as the winner during an all-school assembly to celebrate the end of the first quarter, the PTA fundraiser and the collective success of students, teachers and staff. Superintendent Dr. Annette K. Freiheit was also at the assembly to congratulate the W-K community for their hard work and to help celebrate Conway.
It was a perfect afternoon for the honored teacher, who always has a smile on her face.
“I love to use humor and be a little silly sometimes,” Conway says, “so that every day we can say we smiled and laughed and had some fun together.”