At a meeting of the National Education Association's Representative Assembly today in Washington, D.C., NEA President Dennis Van Roekel announced that Governor Mark Dayton is this year's recipient of the America's Greatest Education Governor Award. The annual award recognizes and honors governors who have made major, state-level education strides that improve public schools.

About the award, Governor Dayton said, "I am very honored to receive this award from teachers across America. As a former public school teacher, I know how challenging their jobs are. I promised that my administration would make education and jobs my highest priorities. This award shows we're making progress."

"Gov. Dayton has repeatedly stood strong for Minnesota's students and schools," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "He has kept his promise to make education a top priority of his administration by increasing education funding and focusing on our earliest learners. We are pleased to honor Gov. Dayton with the America's Greatest Education Governor Award. We are grateful for his continued commitment to students and the education professionals who work in schools and classrooms."

Gov. Dayton understands that investing in the education of our children is critical to Minnesota's future success," said Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher. "He also understands that the road to a better Minnesota begins by working with people in our classrooms every day and by supporting our educators who also fight for our country.

Governor Dayton had the opportunity today to greet members of the NEA Minnesota delegation in attendance at the Representative Assembly, including Mr. Matt Reuter. Mr. Reuter is a teacher in the Winona, MN school district who also served with the Air Force Reserve in Afghanistan in 2011. Under state law in 2011, Mr. Reuter was required to pay the cost of a substitute teacher while he was deployed to Afghanistan. The K-12 Education Policy bill signed into law by Governor Dayton in May, 2012, ensures that teachers that are deployed receive the salary owed to them once returned to Minnesota.