Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8

Osseo Area Schools’ teachers are a lifeblood of district schools. Each day, so many talented and hardworking teachers work to ensure students get the support they need academically and beyond. This week, we will feature just a few of the 1,766 outstanding teachers currently serving students in our community. 

Beth Romano - Brooklyn Middle STEAM School (BMS)

Beth Romano said she has wanted to be a teacher since childhood thanks to her grandma, who taught students who were new to the country. 

“It was when she brought me to her school's multicultural festival that I saw firsthand how much of an impact she made on her students’ lives and how much they appreciated her leadership,” Romano said. “I have tried to model her kindness and caring nature in my own practice to make learning fun and welcoming for all.”

Romano has been teaching various subjects for the past 18 years, starting as a biology teacher in New York and spending the past 13 years at BMS, where she currently teaches tech ed/Project Lead the Way, family & consumer science and culinary arts. For the past several years, she has also facilitated the school’s yearbook production and a club called Future Chefs. 

“Beth is a master of all trades who designs real-world learning experiences for her students,” said BMS Principal Kim Monette. “She incorporates student voice and culture into her classroom and stays open to new ideas and opportunities that provide an authentic experience.  Her passion for her students and their experiences are her driving force.”

Romano said she is especially proud of one of her more recent projects, called Bulldog Cafe, which is a student-run pop-up restaurant during each trimester’s conference night that serves a full, free meal to attendees. Her students also have made dozens of lasagnas from scratch and donated them through an organization called Lasagna Love, helping to fulfill a core mission of Romano’s classes - helping each other. 

“I want to thank my family, my admin team and co-workers at BMS for all the support and guidance over the span of my career, and mostly to my students,” she said. “They continue to inspire me with their perseverance and educate me with their own lived experiences.”

Steph Sorbel - Cedar Island Elementary School

Steph Sorbel, fifth-grade teacher at Cedar Island Elementary, has spent much of her life preparing for the classroom. She traces her interest in education back to childhood, when she organized makeshift lessons for neighborhood kids in her garage. That early inclination solidified in college, where regular classroom observations confirmed her commitment to teaching. Ms. Sorbel has taught in multiple settings, including both 5th grade and 7th and 8th grade Language Arts at PACT Charter School. After several years away to raise her four children, Sorbel felt an undeniable pull to return to the profession. She has been with Osseo Area Schools for seven years, including the past five at Cedar Island Elementary.

Sorbel’s approach centers on engagement and encouragement. Year after year, she brings a simple motto into her classroom for her students: “Choose Joy.” As an upper-elementary educator, she understands that she’ll get an eye-roll from time-to-time, but that’s easily trumped by the moments where the mantra really connects. Just this year, Ms. Sorbel received an email from a former fourth-grade student, who shared that when she faces challenges, she continues to revert back to the idea of choosing joy, and that her approach has helped her through the highs and lows of middle school. It was a clear reminder that educators don’t always get to see the impact of their work in real time, but that their influence can live on for months, years, or decades to come.

At Cedar Island, colleagues describe Sorbel as a steady and student-centered presence. Principal Alex Berg notes that she “does whatever it takes to meet the needs of every student, ensuring each child feels seen, supported, and successful.” Her ability to create a welcoming environment, paired with a commitment to making learning engaging, has made her a valued member of the school community. Sorbel hopes that families recognize the behind-the-scenes effort educators invest each day — and that her students leave her classroom knowing they were supported every step of the way.

Ms. Sorbel’s message to the community is a simple one - continue to be engaged. When parents take full advantage of the opportunity to work with and alongside their child’s teacher, students receive the maximum educational benefit and educators are able to keep, and share, their spark.

Cynthia Stennes - Weaver Lake: A Science, Math & Technology School

Cynthia Stennes has been teaching music for 37 years, with 27 of those years at Osseo Area Schools. During her time in the district, she has taught at Rice Lake, Oak View, Edgewood and Weaver Lake elementary schools. Stennes grew up with two teachers as parents and said she initially resisted the idea of becoming a teacher herself, but she soon realized that teaching was, in fact, in her blood. 

“I love seeing that lightbulb moment when a student smiles with understanding,” she said. “I have loved being a teacher and, even after so many years, I still get excited about things that I teach.”

Stennes said that, while teachers care for their students, they are not simply caregivers. 

“We are professionals who care for our students, and we love to see staff and families working together for kids,” she said. 

Dr. Ronald Salazar, principal of Weaver Lake, said Stennes doesn't aim to produce an ensemble of professional performers in her music classroom, but rather to cultivate whole human beings by prioritizing passion over perfection, helping students develop deep-seated feelings for music and an appreciation for all art forms. 

"Mrs. Stennes is a testament to the idea that it is never too late to chase a new passion," Salazar said. "While she has always been a dedicated educator, she didn't take up running until her own children were older—eventually achieving the incredible feat of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. That same drive and discipline translate directly into her classroom, where she fosters a vibrant environment rooted in the joy of the arts."

Salazar said Stennes can often be found meeting with students before and after school, or even during her prep period, to help them refine their vocals or workshop a new piece of original music. And, beyond her work with students, he said she is a favorite among her peers.

"Always eager to connect with colleagues and share in the stories of their lives, Mrs. Stennes remains a true pillar of our school community," he said. 

 

Helmine Bonglack - Community Education Adult Basic Education 

As a child growing up in Cameroon, Helmine Bonglack discovered a passion at a young age for helping her peers learn in the classroom at school. The experience grew into a lifelong teaching career.
Bonglack began teaching middle school in 1989. After 16 years, she moved to the United States and went back to school to further her own education. 

Bonglack's teaching career led to opportunities to teach middle school, high school and university level students. 

In 2019, Bonglack applied for a teaching position in Osseo Area Schools’ Community Education Adult Basic Education (ABE) program. 

“I’ve loved teaching in ABE ever since,” Bonglack said. “Working with adults from different backgrounds is very inspiring. The variety of experiences have helped me develop as a teacher.”

“Helmine’s commitment to learning and growing as a teacher shows up in her classroom as she teaches, said ABE Program Coordinator Emily Watts. “She continues to push herself in her profession, and in return, students have that same infectious desire to keep learning themselves.”

Bonglack’s goal has always been to positively impact students in every teaching role she has held. 

When asked what Bonglack wants the greater community to know about the teaching profession, she emphasized it’s a good place to be if you want to help people learn and teachers have an important role in the community. 

Bonglack described that while teaching is both a calling and a vocation, she added teaching in ABE is impactful because adults come to school wanting to learn.

Bonglack plans to continue to follow her passion as an educator.

“It’s what I want to do until I retire,” Bonglack said.