Excellent Educator: John Paul II's Jan Sklenicka

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- This morning, the WCCO Morning Show is honoring another excellent educator in the metro who has gone above and beyond to make a difference in student's lives.

Jason DeRusha headed to the only Catholic school left in Northeast Minneapolis -- Pope John Paul II Catholic School.

DeRusha gave Jan Sklenicka quite a surprise, ambushing her at parent-teacher conference day.

Principal Debbie King sent in a touching nomination for Sklenicka, saying that she's a tough teacher with a heart of gold, and that she's a blessing to the children of God at Pope John Paul II.

"We have a teacher in our midst who has spent so many years here in this community, doing the right thing day in and out," King said. "There are a lot of children who have benefited from her skills."

Sklenicka has been teaching for 41 years now.

"So I should know what I'm doing," joked Sklenicka. "But I keep learning, because things keep changing."

Sklenicka was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but says she isn't letting it keep her from giving her children the best education she can offer.

You can nominate a deserving educator by going to the WCCO Morning Show's Facebook page, telling us their name and why they should be WCCO's Excellent Educator of the week.