Lois Lewis, a Family and Consumer Studies teacher at Indus School, is “humbled” by two recent honors naming her “Teacher of the Year.”

The educator of more than 20 years was named the 2012 “Teacher of the Year” by Minnesota Association of Family & Consumer Sciences and by Positive Promotions.

“It’s a good feeling after years of trying to build the FACS program and all the blood, sweat, and tears put in to make a relevant, innovative, and engaging curriculum for students,” Lewis told The Journal this week.

Lewis explained that she started her teaching career as a substitute in 1989. She taught under limited license until 1993 when she received her secondary teaching license. It wasn’t until 2004, however, that Lewis began teaching full-time.

Lewis highlighted variety as one of the most enjoyable avenues of her job. “I am fortunate to have a great deal of variety in the curriculum I teach and it is centered on the family, which is near and dear to my heart. I also like the hands-on approach to learning, and the kids do, too.”

Two awards

Lewis’ former high school teacher, LouAnn Restad, contacted Lewis last year to let her know she would be submitting a nomination form for the MAFCS “Teacher of the Year” on Lewis’ behalf.

“I did not know I would win,” Lewis noted.

Lewis will be recognized of her achievement at the MAFCS state conference in St. Cloud in February.

She added that an application for the national honor of “Teacher of the Year” through the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences has also been submitted and the winning candidate will be announced in June.

The second of Lewis’ awards was through Positive Promotions, a business that sells recognition and special events products.

“I have occasionally ordered from them for volunteers and last spring, I saw that they were looking for recommendations for a teacher of the year,” she said. “Along with the recognition, they would give $500 to the program of the winning teacher.”

Because Lewis was interested in the money for her ProStart program, which is restaurant and food service management for students, she decided to apply.

A deserving candidate

Lewis said she believed she stood out for each of the awards she won because through the years, she has been able to come up with “some timely and engaging classes which I have received some visibility in my profession,” she says.

Recently, Lewis has written grants which have helped the Indus School to focus on healthy eating, preparing meals and new initiatives.

“I have also promoted the successes of our students in newspapers and radio,” she said.

As the new semester of the 2011-12 school year begins, Lewis said her plans are to “carry on.”

“There’s always some exciting project around the corner,” she said.