by Dennis Dalman
Sartell kindergarten teacher Kelsey Stoebe just might have inherited the “teaching gene” from her grandmother and mother. Either that or maybe through a process of osmosis, their love for teaching rubbed off on her.
Grandmother Betty Payne and mother Laurie Keller taught elementary-school grades in St. Cloud for many years. Like those natural mentors, Stoebe always loved children and helping others.
For 17 years, Stoebe has taught kindergarten at Sartell’s Oak Ridge Early Learning Center.
Recently, Stoebe was one of five area teachers honored for excellence by Country Financial Insurance and the St. Cloud Rox Baseball Club. Stoebe was presented with a plaque on the Rox baseball field. She was one of five area teachers honored. All were nominated for the honors by principals, students and parents.
“It’s awesome to get an award,” Stoebe told the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader. “It’s nice to be recognized. Kids are so happy and eager to learn, and that is so important. I want to inspire them to be the best. Teaching is such a joy because of the kids and the families I get to connect with in Sartell. There are so many amazing teachers in Sartell.”
Stoebe was nominated for the award by former Oak Ridge Learning Center Principal Jason Mielke.
“Each day Kelsey goes above and beyond to meet the needs of learners in her classroom,” Mielke wrote in his nomination statement. “She is calm, patient and consistent with her students. The learning environment in her classroom is beyond phenomenal. Students are excited to learn due to the extensive planning Stoebe does on a weekly basis to create engaging activities. I can always count on Kelsey to take on the day-to-day challenges with the utmost style and grace. She not only is great for our students but is a positive mentor for our younger staff.”
Stoebe grew up in Sartell and earned her elementary-education degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She was an assistant coach for the Sartell High School Sabres Dance Team.
Her husband, Stefan, is a chiropractor who also grew up in Sartell. The couple has two children – Easton, 8; and Beckett, 4.
Country Financial, an insurance and financial services company, has donated more than $4 million since 2020 to organizations and programs that support teachers, first responders, active-duty service members and veterans. Its mission is to support the company’s vision to “enrich lives in the communities we serve.”
Kelsey Stoebe, long-time kindergarten teacher at Oak Ridge Early Learning Center in Sartell, was honored for her teaching excellence at a recent St. Cloud Rox baseball game. Stoebe was nominated by her school principal for the award, which was given by Country Financial and the Rox Baseball Club. In the photo above, Stoeber is third from left. The others (left to right) are Country Financial employees Scott Schmitz, Leah McGuire and Tom Jelinski.