Kari Rath, third grade teacher at St. Bernard’s Catholic School in Thief River Falls, has been named the Diocese of Crookston Teacher of the Year. She recently received the award.
Rath was chosen among the 147 teachers in the Diocese of Crookston. St. Bernard’s kindergarten teacher Patty Brekkestran and first grade teacher Shelly Burkel were finalists for the award.
Rath has been teaching third grade at St. Bernard’s for 21 years. “I’m completely shocked and honored by the award,” said Rath. “I work with an amazing principal, Mrs. Laura Brickson, who gives me the freedom to try new projects and activities. She also trusts me with that freedom, which is key.”
Rath gives credit to her fellow teachers at St. Bernard’s. “My co-teachers motivate me to become better each and every day,” she said. “They have made me a better teacher.”
Rath also gives credit to St. Bernard’s students and their families. She said they make her job fun and exciting. “They’ve been incredibly supportive throughout the years,” she said. “I know they’ve have had to make sacrifices to send their children to St. Bernard’s, much like my parents did. I don’t ever want them to regret sending their child to St. Bernard’s. I look forward to coming to school every day, and I hope my students do, too. I can only hope to be the same inspiration to my students as my Catholic school teachers were to me.”
Rath’s husband, Jacob, has also provided some inspiration as a fellow teacher. He is a third grade teacher in Red Lake Falls and the couple share two sons, Sam and Isaac. “It’s fun to bounce ideas off one another. He’s given me lots of ideas, and he’s used some of my projects and activities, too. He also understands what its like to be a teacher, and not many husbands do.”
Rath was inspired to be a teacher while she was an elementary student at St. Anastasia Catholic School in Hutchinson. “All of my elementary teachers were amazing role models and an inspiration for me,” she said. “They planted the love for education in me. They were the reason I wanted to become a teacher.”
Two days after Rath won the award, there was an open house tour of St. Anastasia. At the tour, Rath was able to reconnect with her second grade teacher, who happened to be one of her favorite teachers. “It was fun to walk through, reminisce and thank the teachers for helping become the teacher I am today,” she said.
It’s also rewarding to Rath to see former students pursue a career in education.