With the help of her students and their parents, Carla Allen of Isanti Intermediate School has been named as a recipient for the 2016 WEM Outstanding Educator Award for Ethics in Education.
This year, Allen is one of six educators to receive this award, which consists of a trophy and $15,000. Allen was surprised with her crystal apple trophy on April 14 in front of all of her students. She will be formally honored by the WEM Foundation at an awards brunch in May.
The WEM Foundation, a private foundation based in Minnesota, was first started in 1998 to support teachers and the impact they have on their students. The idea of the award is to show appreciation for the “unsung heros.” The educator award program is administered by Synergy & Leadership Exchange.
The Ethics in Education awards recognize exemplary educators who embody ethical behavior and promote ethical development for students through classroom or school activities, policies or curriculum.
The winners of the award were all nominated by students, peers and parents because of the way they demonstrate ethics and positive behavior in their classrooms.
Allen has been teaching for 10 years and also acts as the STEAM coordinator for School For All Seasons. Allen has been described as a teacher who sees value in teaching her students to understand diverse world perspectives and how to think for themselves.
Allen remains an active member in the community. She has helped deliver food with Meals on Wheels, served on the Cambridge-Isanti Competitive Baseball Board and has volunteered through the Cambridge Ambassador Program.
Allen has been called a teacher with the ability to challenge her students and make them feel valued; she excels in finding a way for all of her students to feel important in her classroom.