Congrats to our 2025 MELA MPS educator grant recipients
Our big congratulations to thirteen outstanding Minneapolis Public Schools educators who were selected for this year's Minneapolis Educator Leadership Awards (MELA)! Each honoree received funds for creative projects that impact student achievement, go above and beyond to better the lives of students outside the classroom and improve our school communities.
Now celebrating its tenth year, MELA provides opportunities for educators to recognize their peers. We're proud to have a process that is entirely educator-focused and led, from nominations to proposals. Educators can be nominated by colleagues, community members and even students. Nominees are invited to submit proposals, with winning proposals selected by a committee of teachers and staff who are actively working in MPS and have received the award in the past.
2025 MELA grant recipients include:
- Jill Amble, Northeast Middle School
- Ronald Buck, Lucy Craft Laney Elementary
- Joe Burgoyne, Loring Nicollet Alternative High School
- Nicolas Collard, Seward Montessori Elementary
- Julia Gartzke, Ella Baker
- Jason Miller, Anishinabe Academy
- Jacob Nielsen, Transitions Plus
- Anwar Mohamed, Sullivan STEAM School
- Paul Pacheco, Takota Prep
- Solomon Parham, Olson Middle School
- Ryan Terpening, Edison High School
- Lauren Tolbert, Longfellow Alternative High School
- Dana Williams, Anderson United Middle School
MELA grants are a project of the John & Denise Graves Foundation in partnership with Achieve Twin Cities. For more information, visit the Graves Foundation website or contact mpsgrants@achievetwincities.org. Nominations for 2026 MELA awards will go live this fall.
Find out why Lisa Moy from the Graves Foundation loves supporting educators through MELA.
Learn more about funds administered by Achieve Twin Cities for MPS educators and classrooms.