2001 North Dakota Teacher of the Year
Ms. Deitz is a grade three teacher at Madison Elementary in Fargo, North Dakota with twenty-nine years of experience. She is currently teaching her students all subjects with the exception of Music and Physical Education.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"Teaching is creating community within a collaborative work group classroom that allows for excellent content education, character building and the capacity to care for others."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"I have partnered or collaborated with many community resources. These resources have involved my students in interactive, real-world situations while also stressing that everyone has something vital to contribute."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"My greatest teaching accomplishment is that many people have commented that my classroom fosters a climate of inclusiveness and respect. In February 1998, I started the H.E.A.R.T. Literacy Project for refugee families at Madison Elementary. This program provides English tutoring to parents and their children two evenings a week."

What's the most critical issue facing educators today and what do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
"The most critical issue facing educators today is the need to change our focus from the role of providing content to teaching our students how to access, evaluate and utilize the immense amount of information in a our rapidly changing world. It is our job to take all children at all levels and provide them with the education needed to be functioning, successful members of our communities. Teachers must realize the importance of having "a voice" and actively getting involved in accountability reforms that are implemented in their states and schools."

Inspirational thought:
"Parents, the community and state and federal policy makers are becoming increasingly empowered to express their ideas of changes needed in our educational systems. "WE" need to empower our children in making decisions about their own learning and empower educators to make that learning happen."