First-Grade Teacher, Onamia Elementary School
B.S., Elementary/K-6 Education, 2013
Sarah Lancaster, a first-grade teacher at Onamia Elementary School, was named the 58th recipient of the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award during a banquet in May 2022. She is the first person from Onamia Public Schools and the first teacher of Asian Pacific Islander descent to be named Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Sarah currently serves as President of the Onamia Area Civic Association, and has coached more than 20 seasons of both athletics and arts programs in Onamia. She has directed three of the annual high school musicals and volunteers with local youth groups and through her church.
"St. Cloud State provided a space for me to not only learn about my future profession, but who I was as a person during a critical time in my journey of self growth and understanding.
"As a young adult I was able to make friends at SCSU who helped shaped who I am today; some of my best opportunities for professional development include getting together with my classmates of ‘13 to connect about our experiences in education. The friendships I made in Brown Hall and the Education Building have lasted for a decade and beyond.” - Sarah Lancaster ’13
STORY: Teacher of the Year: Sarah Lancaster ’13