Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed today, May 3, 2011, as Minnesota Teacher Day, in conjunction with National Teacher Day, urging that all observe the day by taking time to recognize and acknowledge the impact of teachers. /governor/assets/Minnesota-Teacher-Day.pdf_tcm1055-94109.pdfA copy of the proclamation is attached.

Today, Governor Dayton also recognized Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Katy Smith. Ms. Smith is an Early Childhood Family Education teacher at Goodview School in the Winona school district. Notably, she is the first ECFE teacher to win the Teacher of the Year award, distributed by Education Minnesota. This year Governor Dayton reauthorized the Statewide Early Childhood Advisory Council and has made early childhood initiatives a priority of the administration.