Selvik surprised by honor of Waseca teacher of the year

Meghan Selvik, a special education teacher at Hartley Elementary School, was taken by surprise when it was announced at the end of the school’s Veterans Day program she had been named as the Waseca Education Association’s Teacher of the Year.

Building principal Ben O’Brien announced her selection, letting everyone know Selvik was nominated by colleagues and voted on by peers. “Any teacher can nominate or be nominated,” he said.

Selvik had no idea she had won the award. As the Veterans Day celebration continued, “I was sitting with students. I saw my husband was there and my mother, then I saw my kids and there were flowers.” She had been told she’d been nominated, but hadn’t given it much thought since then. Her husband Todd works the farm they own. Her daughter Sydney, 9, is a fourth-grader at Waseca Intermediate School and was excused from classes to watch her mother be honored. Ethan, 7, is in second grade at Hartley and Olivia, 5, is in kindergarten. Said Selvik, “My family was there, and I didn’t know they would be, this was organized without my knowledge but it’s such an honor from the school and the school district.”

Principal O’Brien said the gym was pretty much cleared out by ten and that Selvik, humble till the end, simply went back to work. Said O’Brien, “All our teachers at Hartley are good, but this teacher has been outstanding. She’s a Waseca public school employee who represents our school very well and is the greatest example of what it means to be a team player.” There was time to take pictures and for students and teachers to congratulate Selvik. She’s a resource room teacher for Hartley; her official title is Special Education Teacher.

When asked what sets her apart from other teachers, a little reluctant and humbled by the question, she replied, “I’m a special ed teacher, a team player, I’m flexible and I advocate for my students. I feel I’m good at getting my students to improve their skills. I always put my students and their needs first.  I do sometimes think I can do more for them, but I only have so much time with them per day.” She did want to add, and this was important for her, “I don’t like to be in the spotlight, I think there are many other teachers who deserve this far more than I do. Hartley has a really strong staff, and they also need to be recognized.”  

Selvik said she didn’t do much to celebrate the win, “We treated it like a regular day, but my family and I did go to Dairy Queen that night. I thought I would try something different, so I got the Butterfinger Blizzard. Despite her desire to stay out of the spotlight, she said her family was really excited.