Excellent Educator: Carol Callen From Golden Valley SEA

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Carol Callen is a teacher at Golden Valley's School of Engineering and Art. Her compassion for kids inside, and outside school, hours is what makes her this week's Excellent Educator.

"You know what, this is one of the proudest days of my whole life. Thank you boys and girls," Callen said.

Her young students applauded, but that is about as loud as they got during WCCO's visit.

Callen's calming voice has been quieting first graders for 28 years.

"I love my kids and this is a great age," she said.

At this age, Callen is just introducing them to skills they'll use every day of their life.

"They come in and they're not reading yet, they don't add or subtract yet, and they can just do so much at the end of the year. It's amazing," she said.

Of course to make so much progress in a year, the students need a dedicated teacher. Callen stays after school to work one on one with those who struggle.

"At the end of school, when nobody is here, in the Adventure Club we do math," said, one of Callen's first graders, said.

Parents appreciate the attention.

"When I first started working with Mrs. Callen I thought it was just my kid. I was like, "Wow she's really taking extra time with my kid!" But then what I learned after going on field trips and really participating in the class is that it's not just my kid, it's every kid in the classroom she's taking time with," said Miquel McMoore, a parent.

Her dedication never ends.

On the Friday night before spring break, school being long over, she still sent an email to the parent telling her her child is doing awesome work in reading and asked the parent to continue to read to him every day over spring break.

So, she keeps parents on their toes.