Gaul is a history instructor, and takes immense pride in her craft when it comes to teaching her students and engaging with the community in sharing her deep love of history.

“It is quite the honor … I was very pleased, (and it’s) very gratifying to receive such an award,” Gaul said. “It’s also gratifying because it indicates that people see the good work that you’re doing. They recognize that you’re doing good work, you’re working hard and you’re passionate about what you do. It’s always gratifying to be seen in that way.”

Gaul was one of three educators statewide to receive the award across the Minnesota State college system, and was nominated in November 2025. The other two awarded educators are Jason Cussler of Minneapolis College, and Cheng Thao from Metro State University.

First joining Minnesota West as a full-time faculty member in 2018, Gaul cores her teaching style in engagement, equity and inclusion. She strives to make her lessons memorable for her students, and will often portray a historical period by dressing in specific clothing that fits the era, bring in authentic food, play time-specific music or also includes virtual reality technology.

Photo courtesy of Minnesota West: History instructor Dr. Anita Gaul of Minnesota West has been named the 2026 Minnesota State Educator of the Year by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees. She will sometimes dress in era-specific wardrobe for her history lessons.

Gaul teaches a variety of history classes including Western civilization, world history, U.S. history and Minnesota history.

Although working in education her entire professional career, receiving such an honorary award that is recognized at the state level serves as a motivating factor for Gaul to keep self elevating.

“It’s motivational in a sense that I need to keep up the good work, and not just rest on my laurels and just start coasting. (There’s also) this self pressure that I put on myself, like, ‘OK, you better make sure you keep being worthy of this. You need to keep up the good work and kick it up a notch,'” Gaul said, laughing. “I guess it gives me more internal pressure to keep up the good work, and not to slide or just become complacent.”

Beyond the classroom, Gaul also hosts public presentations for the community to further share her passion and wisdom to help people understand more of the past and its importance.

Gual has made it known that whatever she can do to bring historical periods and moments to life, and share it with others, she certainly will. She first discovered her interest in history at an early age, citing that her dad used to always read the newspaper or history books.

Photo by Deb Gau: Dr. Anita Gaul, history instructor at Minnesota West, gives a gives a public history presentation at the Lyon County Museum in Marshall on April 9. Gaul has been named the 2026 Minnesota State Educator of the Year by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees.

This award in particular also reaffirms belonging for Gaul, who initially was pursuing a different career path in college where she was majoring in German and political science. She switched paths after coming to the realization she was in the wrong field when she was studying abroad in Germany.

“It’s full circle, but it’s also confirmation in figuring out what I was gifted at,” Gaul said. “It’s like, yes, you have found your place. You figured it out.”

Gaul is originally from Murray County near Chandler. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with her masters and PhD at the University of Iowa to open up the opportunity to teach in higher education. She had a teaching assistantship in school at Iowa, then moved back home to Minnesota where she was an adjunct professor at Southwest Minnesota State University for nine years before going to Minnesota West.

Along with her newly-awarded State Educator of the Year title, Gaul also received the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award in 2024 from Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, which is the highest honor a Secretary of State can give. She received the honor to compliment her time serving as vice chair on the State Emblems Redesign Commission, where she worked with a group appointed by Minnesota legislature to redesign the state’s flag and seal

Gaul will be honored in-person at a banquet on Wednesday with the Minnesota State Board of Trustees in St. Paul, which she noted she is very much looking forward to.

In addition to recognizing her dedication, hard work and passion, receiving the state award carries a full-circle importance for Gaul, as she reflects on everything her career in education has been so far, by truly sharing her love for history.

“I didn’t initially intend to be a history educator. I was down a different career path, and then I reflected upon myself, my passions, my gifts and realized I was on the wrong track,” Gaul said. “I self corrected, and this is confirmation that I figured things out soon enough. I made the right corrective, and I figured out what I was supposed to do.”