Meet Mound Westonka's Feature Teacher for October

by Lorrie Ham

Jenny Naslund has been selected as the Mound Westonka School District's "Feature Teacher" for the month of October. Naslund, who has been a teacher at Grandview Middle School for six years, graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a K–6 elementary degree and a 5–8 science license.

Since graduating, she has received a K–8 keyboarding for computer applications license and a K–12 reading license from Hamline University.

Naslund teaches fifth through seventh-grade computer skills, seventh-grade Future Cities (an advanced class focused on math, science and engineering) and fifth-grade Real Lives (an advanced technology class based on a simulation that allows kids to be born and live a life of a person from a different country).

Outside of the classroom, Naslund has been the Student Council Advisor for four years and a member of both the Technology Committee and Shared Decisions Committee for three years each.

“I am honored and excited to be named Lord Fletcher’s Feature Teacher," Neslund said. “Everyday I come to work for Mound Westonka I have the privilege to interact with fabulous students, great families, and a very supportive staff.” 

Principal Christine Zachow praised Neslund's classroom focus and her ability to integrate modern day technology and practices into the curriculum.

“Jenny is the perfect example of what a 21st Century teacher should be,” Principal Zachow said. “Her classes focus on skills that help prepare kids for the 21st Century, such as collaboration, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking.  For example, she created a course called ‘Future Cities’ in which students use computer simulation to plan cities of the future. She also has several parents and community members who are engineers come in regularly to help the students make wise decisions about all the types of engineering that need to be considered as they plan.”

Principal Zachow went on to say Neslund’s students are routinely challenged and constantly engaged.

“She revamps this and every course she teaches to utilize the latest technology so that her kids are well prepared for the future,” she said. “She works tirelessly to keep her classes cutting-edge, relevant and engaging and she does this with a positive attitude and endless enthusiasm.”

Mound Westonka’s Feature Teacher of the month receives a certificate for a brunch for two at Lord Fletcher’s.