Excellent Educator: St. Paul's Lutheran School's Allen Mengis

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. (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 students' lives.

Some lessons can't be confined to a classroom, something this week's Excellent Educator knows very well. Allen Mengis is a kindergarten teacher at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Prior Lake, but his impact isn't just in the classroom.

Mengis started the Christian Rock band -- Exclamation Praise Team -- made up of students at St. Paul's.  "I think the kids here are awesome. I love what I do," he said. "I love teaching and I couldn't think of doing anything else."

One parent told WCCO the band gives students confidence to succeed in other parts of their lives. Other parents have said they actually choose that school so their kids can be in Mengis's class.

"If (students) know that you love them, they're going to listen and follow your directions and do what you want them to do," principal Doug Mierow said. "He's so talented, and he has so many different gifts that he gives."

The Exclamation Praise Team started last year, and Mengis says the students involved love sharing their gift of music.

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.