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News and Highlights


The School of Education alumni have been doing many great things over the years. Check out some of the most prominent highlights.

Alumni News

Stranmillis University College Education Tour

During the spring break of 2023, Dr. Lara Bronson, along with ten School of Education students, traveled to Belfast and Dublin to visit to tour our education partner Stranmillis University College. This was a 10-day trip in the month of March!

SOE Abroad
Stacey Olinger

Graduation: May 2009 degree in Middle School Social Studies and Elementary Education

Post-Graduation: Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN; Sixth-Grade Middle School Teacher, Highview Middle School, New Brighton, MN

“This is my twelfth year of teaching, and I have been a Highview Hawk through all of them! While at Highview, I have taught ELA, Science, Study Skills, and Social Studies, but I love Social Studies the most! Teaching is something I knew I wanted to do from a very young age…. I consider it an absolute honor and blessing that I get to do this!”

Awards: Stacey Olinger ’09 was named 2020 Teacher of the Year by Minnesota Council for the Social Studies (MCCS). MCSS honors four teachers each year representing Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Lifetime Achievement. The honorees are nominated by colleagues, supervisors, parents, and students. According to MCSS, “They exemplify the best of social studies teaching in Minnesota.”

photo of Stacy Olinger receiving award
BETHANY HILLEN

Graduation: May 2018 degree in Early Childhood Education

Post-Graduation: Teacher and founder of “Miss Bethany’s Bees,” a homeschool group for preschool through third grade in Scandia, Minnesota.

Acknowledgements: Fox 9 News featured “Miss Bethany’s Bees” outdoor classrooms on a segment titled, “Minnesota students build outdoor classroom out of snow.”

photo of Bethany Hillen