Jan Repnow, a business instructor at the Wolford School System, received a $10,000 educational grant for her school, and her name will advance to a pool of national finalists.
Repnow is the daughter of Norman and Delores Thompson of Ray. She is entering her 22nd year of instructing Wolford students, located northeast of Rugby.
"I was immensely humbled and overwhelmed," Repnow said of the recognition.
Her school already had received a $1,000 grant for her being named the local Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year via the Devils Lake store. Repnow hopes the $10,000 grant will be applied to technology to help the Wolford students keep pace with changes.
While school enrollment ranges around 186 students, it has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in the No Child Left Behind Program.
Its Future Business Leaders of America program has been among the top-ranking in the state.
"I urge the students to go the extra mile, and be the best you can be - not only for yourself, but for other people," she related.
She enjoys the small school atmosphere because each student can get a lot of individual attention.
"Every day we need to see growth and learning, not only in the classroom, but in our personal endeavors," she said when asked what she hopes to instill in her students in grades 9-12.
Repnow is a graduate of Ray High School, and she earned her teaching degree from Minot State University. She received a master's degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
She likened her two decades of teaching in a small school to a second family.
Her parents and former and current students will honor her Wednesday at a special community ceremony. "I've got a lot of former students calling and sending me best wishes," Repnow said.
"We're proud that this distinguished honor has been awarded to one of our teachers at Wolford Public School," said Kenneth Braun, store manager at the Devils Lake Wal-Mart.
Through the program, Wal-Mart will give back $4.3 million to the schools of winning teachers. Since its inception in 1995, Wal-Mart has honored 25,000 teachers throughout the nation and donated $18.5 million to local schools. In 2004, the company provided more than $45 million in support of educational initiatives.
"Educators need to be recognized now more than ever as they face the current challenge of improving student achievement," said Dr. William Bushaw, executive director of Phi Delta Kappa International. "The recognition that this program brings, as well as dollars it provides to schools, is a very tangible contribution by corporate America toward school improvement across the country."
Repnow also will receive a personalized Teacher of the Year jacket, a crystal apple , business cards, Teacher of the Year certificates and a one-year membership to Phi Delta Kappa.
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