The Dakota Conference Teacher of the Year award is a new honor introduced in 2024, to recognize educators who embody the high ideals of Adventist education. This recognition highlights the role of education in nurturing both the academic and spiritual development of students. The Dakota Conference believes that,
“In the highest sense the work of education and the work of redemption are one, for in education, as in redemption, ‘no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ’” (Education, p. 30).
This belief is central to the conference’s mission, inspiring the selection of teachers who excel in guiding students in their walk with Christ.
This year, the Dakota Conference recognized one elementary and one secondary teacher for excellence, with the awards announced during Teacher Appreciation Week in May. Leanne Erickson was named the 2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year, a title well-earned by her dedication to students at Prairie Voyager Adventist School in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Leanne Erickson has taught in the Dakota Conference for 10 years, though her journey into teaching began long before. As a teenager, she felt called by God to become a teacher, though she didn’t expect her path to lead to Adventist education. After earning her degree, she encountered several closed doors in her job search until a call came from the Dakota Conference, ultimately leading her to Prairie Voyager School. In 2003, she moved to the Dakotas, met her husband, Troy, and, after several years of teaching, took an 11-year break to care for their three children. When her youngest, Cadence, started school in 2017, Leanne returned to Prairie Voyager, where she has been teaching ever since.
Leanne’s approach to teaching goes far beyond textbooks; she views her classroom as a mission field where each day is an opportunity to guide students toward Christ. Her dedication to students reaches beyond academics, shaping their character and spiritual growth. One parent who nominated her shared that Leanne
“spends untold hours prepping, organizing, and grading outside of class time because she believes her mission is to communicate the loveliness and perfection of Jesus Christ to her students.”
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in hands-on, experiential learning, regularly engaging students in projects and field trips that make learning meaningful. From visiting missile sites to packing lunches for children in need, Leanne creates an environment where learning is both fun and purposeful. Her students fondly recall lessons like an escape-room-style project on the Lewis and Clark Expedition and a cake-decorating exercise for cell biology.
As the sole teacher for grades 1 through 8, Leanne fulfills responsibilities often reserved for school administrators, skillfully managing multiple grade levels while ensuring smooth school operations. Her ability to balance teaching and administrative tasks reflects her organizational skills and passion for education.
A highlight of Leanne’s career came when she helped baptize three of her students, an experience she describes as a fulfillment of her life’s calling.
“The opportunity to guide young people to know Jesus is what I was called to do,”
she reflects. Her commitment to sharing the gospel through her work has inspired her students and the broader church community.
This year, in addition to being named the first Dakota Conference Elementary Teacher of the Year, Leanne was also commissioned as an educator during campmeeting. Commissioning is a recognition given to Seventh-day Adventist educators who demonstrate a lifelong commitment to Adventist education, typically with at least six years of service. These educators are noted for their proficiency and for leading students to Christ, upholding Him as the center of all curriculum and instruction. They create a positive, stable environment that nurtures students’ social, spiritual and emotional growth. Leanne’s commissioning affirms the conference’s appreciation for her dedication and her positive impact on students.
Leanne Erickson’s work exemplifies the ideals of the Teacher of the Year award. Through her work at Prairie Voyager, Leanne has shown that true education goes beyond academics to create a lasting impact on students’ lives.
