MANKATO – Mankato West teacher Scott Urban has been named one of ten finalist for Education Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year. Urban was selected from a group of 30 semifinalists that came out of 108 statewide candidates."It really, truly, this is all about District 77. It's not about me," said Urban.
Urban is in his 28th year of teaching. Starting with four years at a small district in Iowa, Urban then spent 11 years in Wisconsin.
As Urban puts it, this is "lucky number 13" in Mankato.
But his success isn't necessarly luck.
More like team work that begins long before the students hit his classroom.
"These students are successful because of their eleventh grade, tenth grade and ninth grade teachers, " says Urban. "Because of their middle school education and quality of elementary teachers we have here."
Mankato Area Public Schools were recently among just 400 district’s across the country honored by The College Board for increasing the number of AP students while increasing the number of students earning college credit.
"When I first began here I had 17 students. Next year we'll have 111for AP Government at West High School," says Urban.
That's 46 percent of the West senior class in an AP course.
Last May, Urban was selected at Minnesota's "Outstanding Educator" by the Center for Academic Excellence. The award came with a $10,000 prize.
"When I first began here I had 17 students. Next year we'll have 111for AP Government at West High School," says Urban.That's 46 percent of the West senior class in an AP course.
Last May, Urban was selected at Minnesota's "Outstanding Educator" by the Center for Academic Excellence. The award came with a $10,000 prize.
Next for Urban is individual interviews on April 30th with the selection board. The Teacher of the Year will be announced at a banquet on May 1st.
Listen to our interview with Scott Urban
Listen to our interview with Scott Urban