Celebration of Excellence

Nominations are open through the end of February 2021 for Minnetonka Schools’ annual Celebration of Excellence Awards. When you think of excellence in Minnetonka Schools, who comes to mind? A teacher? A para? Another staff member? A school volunteer? You have the chance to nominate that person for a District Child-centered Excellence award!

Those selected as award honorees will be celebrated at the Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony on May 13. Please take a few minutes to acknowledge a district employee or school volunteer for their dedication and impact. Review this website to learn about the award categories, see past years’ winners and submit your nomination.

The nomination period is currently closed.

2021 Celebration of Excellence

Join us virtually for a special 2021 Minnetonka Schools Celebration of Excellence awards program, honoring several of the District’s outstanding staff, teachers and community volunteers. The event, which will be livestreamed for the public, will take place on Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

watch the 2021 Celebration of excellence

The program will include the ‘live’ presentation of awards, recorded interviews and feature videos of award honorees. It will be hosted by Superintendent Dr. Dennis Peterson. Read the full announcement of honorees here.

The Awards

Bradley G. Board Award for Excellence in Elementary Education

Charlie Parnell Memorial Award

Minnetonka Employee Awards for Child-Centered Excellence

We are pleased to introduce a new recognition program to shine a spotlight on our many exemplary employees. This recognition is not a selection of Minnetonka’s best employee in each category—which varies by year, by day, and by moment. This award seeks to select the best representatives of the many outstanding employees in the Minnetonka School District. The program includes recognition for representatives from every employee group.

Learn More & Nominate

Minnetonka Awards for Child-Centered Excellence in Teaching

Minnetonka Awards for Child-centered Excellence in Teaching E-learners

Team Award for Child-Centered Collaboration

Collaboration is a key element of Minnetonka Public Schools' Teaching and Learning Framework. We depend on teachers, staff and the community to develop relationships and design unique student experiences for deeper learning. This award gives us an opportunity to encourage a collaborative culture of innovation in our District and recognize the efforts of a collaborative team (two or more individuals) working together to positively impact student learning.

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Joyce Gustafson Memorial Award

Sponsored by the Lake Minnetonka/Excelsior Rotary Club this award is an ongoing tribute in memory of Joyce Gustafson, a long time Minnetonka music teacher who died in April 1999, after a five-year battle with cancer. This annual award provides recognition to a Minnetonka employee who demonstrates the special commitment to students, creativity in teaching, support for colleagues, and the high level of professionalism shown by Joyce Gustafson during her teaching career in the Minnetonka Schools.

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Spinnaker Award

The Minnetonka School District Spinnaker Award is presented annually to individuals or groups who exemplify volunteerism, community and serving the greater good. Like the spinnaker on a sailboat, the groups or individuals recognized with this award are out in front, full-sail, leading us toward the fulfillment of our dreams. These individuals are powered by the winds of passion, hope, confidence, and inspiration. Honorees may be individual volunteers, financial contributors, volunteer project or event groups, business partners.

Learn More & Nominate