For over twenty years, EconomicsWisconsin has recognized skilled and passionate K-12 educators through our Excellence in Teaching Award who demonstrate the following:
- Preparing their students for the future: providing the tools and knowledge of economics and personal finance so that their students can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities.
- Committed to Student Growth & Achievement: providing creative lessons, interactive simulations and competitions that increase student knowledge of economic concepts and demonstrated gains in student outcomes.
- Advocate for Excellence: connecting economics from the classroom to the world (or markets) students will enter after their graduation as a consumer, employee, producer, entrepreneur, leader and citizen. Awardee shares their expertise and role as an educator to promote the teaching economic concepts at all grade levels. A demonstrated commitment to continuing their life long role as learner.
Nominations and supporting material must be submitted by the deadline in mid-March. One letter of support is required from a principal, administrator or educational colleague. One lesson plan or video showing unique or innovative lesson for students.
The teacher selected will be recognized by EconomicsWisconsin at our annual October conference in Green Bay with complementary registration. State winner will receive a stipend and award.
The Excellence in Teaching Award winner will also be nominated for the John Morton Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Awards organized by the national Council for Economic Education.
Meet the 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award Winner, Patrick Kubeny
EconomicsWisconsin is pleased to award Patrick Kubeny from Rhinelander High School the Excellence in Teaching Award presented by Edvest. Patrick was chosen from nominations across our state. His nomination demonstrated his personal and passion for education. Patrick is a Business Education teacher and chose to pursue his master’s degree before entering teaching to have the broadest education and skills to offer his students.
Understanding that his school district has a high level of poverty. He strives to encourage his students to plan for their future as he described his personal philosophy, “My personal educational philosophy is very simple: EDUCATION=INCOME.” Patrick knows his topics on real world and personal. He shares his own pay stub to demonstrate taxation, saving and retirement. A key assignment is a lifetime financial plan including potential earnings and estimating expenses for housing, transportation and raising a family. This leads to conversations on education, career paths and income.
Rhinelander High School Principal Shane Dornfeld said, “Pat impresses me with his commitment to lifelong learning. It’s this commitment to the growth and his students’ well-being that makes Pat an outstanding educator who empowers his pupils. Pat is charismatic and creative, and he thinks outside the box.”
Bob Glowacki, Executive Director of EconomicsWisconsin said, “Our judging panel had teacher nominations showing great creativity and dedication in preparing their students for real life. Patrick’s energy and passion for personal finance education just popped off the page, providing his students with great resources and his real world assignments kick start vital conversations about their future success.”
“I truly consider my Wisconsin colleagues to be some of the best educators in the nation…to be recognized for this award among them is moving. Many of the lessons and events that I do with my students are linked to things I have learned from attending the EconomicsWisconsin “Get Your Students Pumped Up On Personal Finance & Economics” conference over the last decade. It is so fun and rewarding to work with so many inspiring people all sharing the same passion,” said Patrick upon learning of his selection.
The 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award was made possible by support from:
