Lowell Elementary Teacher Named 2025 Goldfine Gold Star Teacher

May 13, 2025

Matt McConico,

Megan Bennett named 2025 Goldfine Gold Star Teacher

Lowell Elementary teacher Megan Bennett, center, reacts after being named the 2025 Goldfine Gold Star Teacher Monday, May 12, 2025, at Lincoln Park Middle School. (Adelle Wellens, Duluth Public Schools)

DULUTH, Minn. – Lowell Elementary first grade Spanish teacher Megan Bennett was named this year’s Goldfine Gold Star Teacher during a ceremony Monday,

Manley and Lillian Goldfine established the Goldfine Gold Star Teacher Award. The award is to, “recognize teachers who stimulate the intellectual development of our students and provide a strong foundation for educational, personal and professional success”.

Bennett was give the award at a May 12 event at Lincoln Park Middle School.

Bennett’s Principal, Eve Hessler, commented on her award, “Meg is a strong teacher. Her students look forward to school each and every day because they know she will go out of her way to make learning fun. Recently her classroom was turned into an airplane. Each student had a passport and every stamp was associated with a different location and academic theme…

Students spent the week ‘traveling’ South America while continuing to learn math, science, reading and social studies. Reading under desks in forts is another example of the ways that Meg makes learning fun. Spring in Sra. Bennett’s class is magical, when the chicks hatch and all one can hear is their little peeps. The joy in the student’s faces as they learn about, and witness part of the life cycle is a cherished memory that lasts forever for her students.”

Bennett was selected from a pool of nine elementary teachers. The award alternates each year between elementary and secondary teachers.

Megan Bennett, right back, poses for a picture with her family after winning the 2025 Goldfine Gold Star Teacher Award Monday, May 12, 2025, at Lincoln Park Middle School. (Adelle Wellens, Duluth Public Schools)

Members of the Goldfine family typically present $5,000 annually to an outstanding teacher within the Duluth Public School system. Manley and Lillian Goldfine established a fund for the award through the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation in 2006.

The award is intended for the personal use of the recipient and there are no “strings” attached.

This year the Goldfine family presented $7,000 to the winner Megan Bennett and $500 to the other eight nominees.

The 2025 Goldfine Gold Star Nominees from left: Meghan Sperl, Shane Erickson, Sara Vallie, Rebecca Manoppo, Megan Bennett, Jessica Kramer, Jenna Amundson, Tonya Kolenda, and Kristen Woodhull. (Adelle Wellens, Duluth Public Schools)

This year’s nominees were: