What does it take to win a state or national teaching award? Before you rack your brain too hard pondering this query, consider Dan Lundborg’s explanation of how he won the Middle School Teacher Excellence awards from the Minnesota Technology Education Association (MTEA) and the International Technology Education Association (ITEA) in 2005.

“I did what I love to do – teach students about technology and represent technology education at the state and local levels,” said Lundborg.

OK, so there’s more to it than that, but at the core of every great teacher is the desire to teach! A Synergistic facilitator at Northdale Middle School in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Lundborg has other advice for teachers who would like to be recognized as outstanding educators.

“I feel educators need to go beyond their classrooms to support their area of teaching,” he said. “I have served as the treasurer, vice president, and president for North Suburban Technology Education Association, our local affiliate.”
He also has held positions within MTEA. “The personal contacts, experiences, and knowledge I have gained with both of these associations have been extremely valuable and rewarding,” he added.

The Northdale Tech Ed Department was doubly fortunate when it received the national ITEA Technology Education Program Excellence Award in 2006.

“I was shocked and excited about winning the awards,” Lundborg said. “It is unbelievable to win the teacher of the year award and for our department to win the technology education program of the year.”