Spotlight: Jessica Stoen (ND '24)

North Dakota Milken Educator Jessica Stoen (ND ‘24) is a second grade educator at Northern Cass Elementary School. Stoen’s passion for teaching sparks curiosity and builds confidence in her second graders through personalized, hands-on lessons, like the annual water cycle science day. Stoen received a Milken Educator Award on Valentine’s Day 2025!

Milken Family Foundation: How did you feel at your Milken Educator Award notification?

My Milken Educator Award notification was a day I truly will never forget! There are people and moments from that day that are vividly etched into my memory. From walking into the gymnasium feeling excited to celebrate our learners with our North Dakota state superintendent, to walking out as a 2024 Milken Educator, and everything in between! I can still hear Jennifer announcing, “The Milken Educator Award goes to Jessica Stoen,” and the crowd erupting in cheers! In that moment, I felt complete shock. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s a once in a lifetime feeling that is simply indescribable. I keep asking myself, “How did they find me? Just a small-town North Dakota girl living her dream every day!”

MFF: How did learners respond to your Milken Award?

My learners responded in the sweetest ways! My own son happened to be in my class and was sitting next to me during the notification, so it was an immediate hug from him. Another little buddy in my class leaned over to me and said, “Mrs. Stoen, I knew it was going to be you!” As I was walking down to receive the Award, the entire elementary school started chanting, “Mrs. Stoen! Mrs. Stoen!” It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. 

Once I returned to my classroom later that day, I was greeted with cheers, lots of hugs, and congratulatory signs posted all over our classroom. One sweet girl even made me the most creative bouquet of paper roses. For days after, kids from other grades or who I had taught in the past would congratulate me and share hugs or high fives in the hall. Of course, the number one question was always what I was going to do with the money! It was suggested I buy a Lamborghini, purchase a mansion, or take my class to Disney World! 

MFF: What made you want to pursue a career in education?

I always enjoyed playing school when I was younger and had considered teaching as I got older, but I was truly inspired to commit to the profession during a student-to-work experience my senior year of high school. I was paired with third grade teacher Mrs. Olson and after my first day with her, I went to my high school counselor and told him we needed to find a teaching college because I was going to become a teacher! Mrs. Olson showed me what it meant to put relationships first. She had a gift for making students feel loved and valued while also prioritizing academics and inspiring a love for learning. Watching Mrs. O. in action made me realize that this was the kind of impact I wanted to have on others.

MFF: How do you help each learner excel in their own way?

My school district’s ‘why’ is, “We believe every learner can change the world; therefore, we will provide a world-class education.” This is what we strive for each day we walk through our school doors, and we live this ‘why’ through personalized learning. My littles create learner profiles to showcase who they are: their strengths, areas of growth, interests, and dreams. They are allowed agency in their learning from simply choosing where they want to sit during work time to ways in which they demonstrate their learning. They set goals and create ways to track their progress. They know the standards they have mastered, ones they are working on, and ones that are coming up.

They celebrate growth by graphing progress in their data binders and adding stickers to their proficiency posters displayed in our learning center. They know what it means to be proficient and understand that learning is a process. It’s not necessarily what I do to help each learner succeed, it’s what we do together! We’re truly a team when it comes to their learning!

MFF: What does “success” look like for you and your learners in life?

I believe success could be defined as making growth. Success for each person looks different, but if you’re making growth in any way, you are experiencing success. Success could range from accomplishing something small to achieving something great. When I picture my littles in my class, success would be different for each one of them just as success is different for me compared to my colleague next door or down the hall.

MFF: Who are your role models in teaching?

Since receiving the Milken Award, I have been reflecting on the many teachers who have shaped me. Truly, every single teacher I ever had has played a role in who I have become as an educator as well as a person. I think of my first grade teacher, Mrs. Collins, reading stories to us from her little rocking chair as we listened, beaming with love for her. My middle school English teacher, Mrs. Lang, came to my wedding and still remains in touch with me today. My college advisor, Al, who was and continues to be a constant supporter and champion for future educators. I think of Mrs. S. and Dr. Steiner, my administrators who saw something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself. And of course, Mrs. O. Thanks to her inspiration, I found my true calling in life. My heart is so grateful for the wonderful teachers and mentors I’ve had throughout my schooling and teaching career. It truly takes a special heart to be a teacher, and I deeply admire each of them.

MFF: How do you hope to be remembered by your learners?

I hope to be remembered by my learners as someone who cared about them as people first, and learners second. My core teaching belief has always been “start with the heart.” I want my learners to remember that in my classroom they were seen, valued and respected. I hope they remember the joy we shared, the confidence they built, and the encouragement they received to be brave, curious and kind. If my kiddos walk away knowing they were loved and capable of achieving more than they imagined, I will have done my job.

MFF: Are you working on any interesting initiatives or new projects these days? Is there anything else you want to share about your school?

I was chosen to be a lead educator for my district to be trained in Arizona State University’s Next Education Workforce model which is an innovative approach to school staffing. Twelve teachers from two districts in the state of North Dakota were selected. I will be visiting ASU this month with the team to see their model in action at local districts. I will then participate in an online training to receive a micro-credential in being a lead teacher. I’m excited for this opportunity and look forward to seeing how it can benefit rural schools such as mine!

Northern Cass School District was the first district in the nation to become Marzano High Reliability Schools Certified Level 5. It’s a significant accomplishment that our staff has worked tirelessly to achieve. When I talk about being a small-town North Dakota girl just living my dream, I also think about this related to our school and HRS Level 5. Our school, in the middle of a cornfield in rural North Dakota, made up of just over 700 learners PK-12 is doing absolutely amazing things for our learners, and this certification level is just one way that it shows!