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Recognizing Outstanding Educators | 2025
Recognizing Outstanding Educators | 2025
Do you have a passion for economic or financial education? Do you have a unique or exemplary approach to teaching economics or personal finance? Or do you know someone who does? The Minnesota Council on Economic Education’s (MCEE) teaching award program is a unique opportunity to be recognized for your hard work and dedication to economics and personal finance education.
Each year MCEE honors Minnesota educators who effectively teach economic and personal finance principles using innovative, culturally responsive, and creative teaching practices. The awards honor teachers who incorporate exemplary teaching techniques that improve the economic and personal finance understanding of their students, both in and out of the classroom. Teaching award honorees are recognized in one of the categories below and each honoree receives $1,000, a plaque, and a certificate.
MCEE Elementary Educator of the Year (Grades K-5)
MCEE Middle School Educator of the Year (Grades 6-8)
MCEE High School Educator of the Year (Grades 9-12)
Eligibility:
Written description of experience effectively teaching economic and personal finance concepts using innovative, culturally responsive, and creative teaching practices in a K-12 setting.
MN licensed K-12 classroom teacher in a public, private or parochial school for the 2024-2025 school year.
MCEE Educators of the Year | 2025
MCEE Educators of the Year | 2025
Xinyue Jesie Zon | Gr. K-5 | Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy, St. Paul Public Schools
Xinyue Jesie Zon | Gr. K-5 | Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy, St. Paul Public Schools
Jessie Zong is the recipient of the K-5th Grade Educator of the Year award. Jessie has taught at Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy in St. Paul Public Schools since 2017. She teaches literacy, math, health, and social studies for 1st graders, and she also teaches 3rd and 4th grade Chinese, math and economics during Summer Schools (where she first heard of MCEE and fell in love with MCEE resources) and Weekend Chinese schools. Jessie holds one master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus in Policy Analysis from the University of Pittsburgh, and one master’s degree in Education with a focus in Dual Language Immersion from the University of Minnesota. Jessie actively participates in Chinese teaching associations and webinars. She enjoys teaching economics in language and culture immersion classrooms because it expands both her own and her students’ perspectives in life, relationships and decision-making processes. She is now an MCEE Educator Specialist and delivers webinars and pre-service sessions frequently.
Victoria Pierce | Gr. 6-8 | Minnesota Connections Academy
Victoria Pierce | Gr. 6-8 | Minnesota Connections Academy
Victoria Pierce is the recipient of the 6th–8th Grade Educator of the Year award. She is a virtual middle school social studies teacher at Minnesota Connections Academy, working from home in South Carolina. She has served in many leadership capacities within and beyond her school in her five years of teaching. She first discovered MCEE from an email detailing professional development sessions for teachers. She started attending MCEE opportunities regularly and currently serves as a MCEE Brand Ambassador and Economics is Everywhere! curriculum developer. Victoria is passionate about blending virtual tools with economic education into social studies classes to encourage an inquiry mindset in adolescents.
Kelly Lipinski | Gr. 9-12 | St. Francis High School
Kelly Lipinski | Gr. 9-12 | St. Francis High School
Kelly Lipinski is the recipient of the 9th -12th Grade Educator of the Year award. He is in his 23rd year as a social studies educator at St.Francis High School, where he teaches Economics (high school and college level) as well as Geography. He also serves as a wrestling and softball coach and served as his social studies department lead for nine years. After being introduced to MCEE by a colleague and attending the “Teaching High School Economics” summer workshop, Kelly became “hooked” on MCEE resources and professional development opportunities. He now serves as an MCEE Educator Specialist, assisting with curricular projects, delivering webinars, and bringing students to the Econ Challenge.
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