Excellent Educator Jenny Lind Elementary's Leslie Rae Ferster

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – This first week back to school has been all about the kids. But we can't forget about the teachers! With a new school year comes a new year of recognizing Excellent Educators in our community.

This week WCCO paid a visit to Ms. Leslie Rae Ferster at Jenny Lind Elementary in north Minneapolis, who is our very first Excellent Educator of the 2015-2016 school year.

For nearly three decades Ferster has taught all grades and all subjects. This year there is one skill she decided to focus on, reading.

"I just think that reading is the key to open so many doors. No matter what they choose to do in their lives, reading can get them far. It's also a source of enjoyment, stretching their minds and just kind of connects to other subjects too," Ferster said.

Now a small group reading specialist, she has only had students for a few days. But they've already fallen in love with her.

Ferster is graduate of the very school system she works in.

She attended the Minneapolis School District from kindergarten through 12th grade and takes pride in being a former pupil-turned-teacher. She says it's her way of giving back to her community.