Photo by Barb Jeffers
There was a mystery going on at Caledonia High School on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, as the student body was instructed to go to the Fine Arts Center after first period. They were not told why; they were told they would find out when they got there.
As students and staff started filling the room, anticipation grew until Principal Nathan Boler spoke into the microphone. “We are pretty excited here today; we actually have some exciting news,” he announced. Bolter then introduced Jason Sethre, editor of the Fillmore County Journal, who let everyone in on the secret; that one of their teachers had been chosen to receive the Fillmore County Journal Teacher of the Year award.
As Sethre began talking about the Teacher of the Year, it didn’t take long for the students and staff to figure out who the Teacher of the Year was. As soon as Sethre mentioned the Knowledge Bowl, the room erupted in cheers, knowing that Dan Winkler was receiving the award and all the perks that go with it.
The genuine happiness and excitement for Winkler was evident on the students’ faces and many cheered and clapped.
Winkler is basically the high school Natural Sciences teacher, teaching all the sophomore Biology students and a section of the freshman Earth and Environmental Science as well as a section of Ecology.
When asked if he was surprised, Winkler said, “To say the least, yes, I had no idea any of that was coming” and added that no one let the cat out of the bag.
“They definitely kept it a secret at school, for anybody who knew, they didn’t say a word,” noted Winkler.
Winkler was nominated by several people including his partner, Justin Nooker, who sees how much Winkler gives to his students every day.
“I just think Dan is always going above and beyond for the kids,” explained Nooker. Dan coaches the Knowledge Bowl Team and had a team go to regionals and a team go to state, so he spends a lot of time with those students. The respect the students and staff have for their teacher is obvious.
“Dan is also pretty involved with sports and the athletes too, helping with line judging and helps with doing the clock and stuff like that. He is super-passionate about embracing where they are at, and trying to activate students,” stated Nooker.
Winkler has taken his students on several field trips and tries to make science more accessible to students, with things like field trips, outdoor classrooms and more.
Teaching was not Winkler’s first calling, however. “Actually, my career path has not been a linear one. I started out in Wildlife Ecology and bounced around from a couple of jobs. But with the recession in 2009 it was tough to find jobs in that field, and I had been approached by my former elementary principal, and she said, ‘Why don’t you start subbing in between jobs?’” Winkler recalls.
“So, I started substitute teaching, and I really loved working with the kids and the daily change of pace. I never could see myself behind a desk, you know, like a nine-to-five job. I needed some sort of different routine, and so I think teaching really provides that and I also have that ability then to interact with the kids and hopefully make a difference,” stated Winkler.
Valiree Green, who also nominated Winkler, said, “I am a DNR forester, and I have worked with Dan a lot on the school forest. Dan’s been great. He is the epitome of professionalism,” she said.
“Nobody is more deserving than Dan; He volunteers for so many things. It’s just all about the kids,” stated Superintendent Craig Ihrke.
Boler agreed, saying, “He’s only been at Caledonia two years but he’s a rock star; anything you ask he will take on and run with it,” which also makes an impression on his students.
Winkler wanted to express his appreciation to everyone involved in the nomination and surprise. He gave a shout-out to his partner Justin as well as the entire school staff. “If it wasn’t a good working environment, things like this wouldn’t happen and we have had several teachers in our school recognized over the past couple of years, so I think that is a real tribute to our entire staff at Caledonia,” he added.
Along with his Golden Apple award, Winkler also received a La-Z-Boy recliner from Drury’s Furniture of Fountain, Minn., a $500 gift card from Rushford/Harmony/Preston Foods, and a Green Mountain pellet grill from Ody’s Country Meats & Catering of Spring Valley, Minn.
Collectively, Winkler received approximately $2,700 in gifts of appreciation. In the nine years that the Fillmore County Journal has been recognizing the Teacher of the Year, approximately $24,000 in gifts have been awarded to recipients, according to Sethre.
Enjoy your title and your gifts, Mr. Winkler, and know that your peers and your students see your hard work and your passion for teaching, and they appreciate it.
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