KESHENA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)- A Menominee Indian Teacher was recognized for achievement in bringing Native American culture to the classroom.
High School Teacher Ben Grignon was named one of five Wisconsin Teacher of the Year award winners.
State Superintendent Tony Evers presented Grignon with the award in front of the entire school.
“He has taken the Menominee culture and language and is using art to make sure that those things are respected and made more important for the young people,” said Evers.
Grignon is a craft teacher, and teaches traditional arts which brings a focus on the school’s Native American culture.
“I do an experimental archaeology class where they look at traditional implements used by Menominee people, like a deer call or traditional spoons, where we try to recreate that and see how that was done,” Grignon explains. It’s really important that our kids see success like this so they know that they can do it too.”
Grignon was nominated by the principle of Menominee Indian High School and he was selected out of hundreds of teachers throughout the state.
The award is sponsored by former senator Herb Kohl.
It includes $3,000 for the recipient.
Grignon says that is going right back into the classroom.
“What I’m hoping to do is create a curriculum that is based on our seasons,” said Grignon. “And I hope this is going to help move that along.”
He’s been at the high school since 2008.
