Rochester teacher honored for work in education

(ABC 6 NEWS) – A Rochester Catholic School teacher was recently recognized for her work in education

Emily Heydon was awarded the MINNDEPENDENT’s Honor Teacher Award.

Heydon has worked at St. Pius X School since 2014 teaching kindergarten.

"Right from a really young age I knew I wanted to be a teacher," St. Pius X School kindergarten teacher, Emily Heydon said.

Heydon grew up in Rochester and graduated from Rochester Catholic Schools.

She wanted to be a teacher just like her mom and fell in love with early childhood education.

She was nominated by the principal of St. Pius X School and she said she was shocked when she found out she won because she had no idea she was nominated.

"There are so many outstanding teachers that we have in our system and there are so many across the state and so to know that I have been picked from the state as a winner it is just that extra confidence that you have where it has been a really tough few years of teaching," Heydon said.

From teaching kindergarteners with all kinds of personalities to teaching during COVID, Heydon has adjusted to fit her student’s needs.

"We do lots of incorporation of actions when we do sounds and that was my big thing that changed my way of teaching with them and just being really big with my voice and having to do it that way to help them," Heydon said.

She’s continued to keep her drive and passion for teaching no matter the struggle.

"It is just one of those things that I’ve really realized that you can’t really be a teacher until you know your students so building those relationships incorporating what they like because they are all so different," Heydon said.

And for her, it’s her students that keep her going each day.

"All of those little milestones and you’re just like yes you’re getting it we are moving on and they are doing such a great job that it just makes you feel so good that you are like okay we are getting it you are helping them and just seeing their growth when you look back," Heydon said.

Heydon is one of two teachers in Minnesota to receive this award.

She will be honored at a celebration for the MINNDEPENDENT 2022 Private and Education Awards celebration on May 1st.