MARSHALL — As the school year draws to a close and marks the end of her distinguished career, Marshall Area Learning Center’s Brenda Elton has been named the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year by the Marshall Education Association (MEA) after serving the district for 31 years. 

“I was quite caught off guard,” Elton said when she found out about the award. “I was greeted at the top of the steps … There was some music playing, and they had decorated my room and put signs up. They gave me a big lunch, and I was like, ‘Wow you guys went all out.’ It was really nice.” 

Elton started as a math teacher at Marshall Public Schools in 1994, and has been with the ALC since 2007. She went to college at Southwest Minnesota State University, and grew up on a farm in Odin, outside of St. James. 

“I’ve been a math teacher all along,” Elton said. “I’ve taught a lot of variety, but it’s always been math as the main core.” 

Out of college, Elton taught in Canby for three years prior to her arrival back to Marshall, and hasn’t left since. 

The MEA, a union of Marshall Public Schools teachers, counselors and education specialists, nominate a teacher toward the end of each school year for the award.  

The union stated that Elton “has shown an incredible dedication to Marshall Public Schools,” and “has worked extensively with students who are working through many academic and life challenges.” 

Elton primarily teaches 10th to 12th graders, and enjoys helping her students academically while instilling confidence in them. 

“I really like helping kids. Math is such a tough subject, because most people don’t like it. It’s hard to understand, and it’s a lot of work,” Elton said. “If I can reach them to help them understand that they can do this, and that I will help them get through it and be successful, those are the times that I really enjoy.” 

The ALC has smaller class sizes, which Elton said her largest is around seven students, which brings an opportunity to work closely with them. 

“I just sit down beside them, because most of them are one to a table,” Elton said. “We sit and work on problems until they kind of get the idea. We do a lot of one-on-one.” 

Upon every class she has, Elton’s primary goal for her students is to walk away with lessons that can translate to life outside the classroom, while finding educational success. 

“I really want them to leave with the idea that you become a good problem solver. That you can look at a problem, you can think about it, and figure out a way to get through that,” Elton said. “Just the idea that they can be a good thinker, they can be a problem solver, and they can power through it to persevere through the hard times and be successful.” 

As a role model that students see on a near daily basis, teachers often strive to create personable relationships, another factor Elton has enjoyed about her career. 

“My best feature is trying to have a sense of humor with the kids, and just try to make connections with them so that they know we can talk about things. It doesn’t have to be all about math here,” Elton said. “A lot of times with my seniors, we’ll be talking about what’s to come after graduation.” 

Although receiving the award, Elton acknowledged that her ALC coworkers are just as inspiring among the students and to work with. 

“I’ve got great staff out here. We all work really hard to help our kids succeed and graduate,” Elton said. “It’s not just me, it’s everybody working together. I just happened to get recognized, but it could have been any one (of us).” 

The recognition came just days before Elton will close her door and leave her classroom for the final time, as she plans to retire at the end of the school year next week. 

In a decision that comes with bittersweet emotions yet a sense of feeling complete, Elton leaves her teaching role knowing she’s cherished her career working with over three decades of students. 

“I feel like I’m going out on a good note … I don’t think it’s all hit me yet,” Elton said. “It’s been a good run here at Marshall. I’ve enjoyed my years here. I’ve been in five different school settings, and I’ve taught with a lot of different people here. It’s been cool to get to know a lot of people.”