Gayle Chandler, guidance counselor at Park Side Elementary, was recently named Teacher of the Year by the Marshall Education Association. Chandler says she loves building relationships with students, as well as getting to see them learn and grow.

MARSHALL — There are great kids at Marshall Public Schools, Gayle Chandler said. As a guidance counselor working with some of the district’s youngest students, she enjoys getting to know them.

“I love the relationships with these kids,” she said. “They’re so excited to tell you the latest things they’ve done.”

This spring, Chandler, a counselor at Park Side Elementary, was named Teacher of the Year by the Marshall Education Association.

Every year, a committee of MEA members accept nominations and choose a Teacher of the Year to be recognized. For the 2023-24 school year, the MEA received a record number of Teacher of the Year nominations, at 13, said MEA president Stef Scarset.

Chandler said being named Teacher of the Year was “a huge honor,” especially because there were so many people doing great work across the MPS district.

“I feel like we work with amazing teachers and staff every day, and we couldn’t do this without them,” she said.

In nominations, Chandler was described as “an exceptional educator who consistently goes above and beyond to support both students and staff.”

“Gayle’s empathy and ability to connect with students on an emotional level make her an invaluable asset, and her positivity and dedication make her a joy to work with,” MEA members said.

Chandler grew up outside Mankato, but came to Marshall to attend Southwest Minnesota State University. She started her career in social work, but when she did an internship at Marshall Middle School as a graduate student, it made her realize she needed to be working in a school, she said.

“I fell in love with having a relationship with the kids, and getting to see them grow and change,” Chandler said.

As a counselor, Chandler started working at West Side Elementary, and then Park Side.

“I think they’re all great kids,” she said.

Some of the things Chandler said she enjoys about working with younger students are their enthusiasm and honesty. When it comes to how they’re feeling, “They just say it how it is,” she said.

An important part of Chandler’s job is helping to teach Park Side students social and emotional learning. She said staff work with kids to help them learn to name what emotions they’re feeling, and learn skills to cope with those feelings.

Chandler visits each classroom at Park Side for 25 minutes a week. It’s a great chance to work on social and emotional learning, while building trust with students, she said.

“They get to see me, and it’s not because they’re upset,” Chandler said. “I think that helps a lot.”

Chandler also gets to see students as she helps out with lunch and playground duty at Park Side.

There are struggles that children face today, Chandler said. Challenges include mental health needs, as well growing trends in poverty – something that children don’t have control over in their lives. With younger children, basic needs always come first, Chandler said. Often, kids who are having a hard time emotionally are hungry or tired. Or they could be dealing with life getting harder and more complicated, she said.

But there are also a lot of positive aspects of her job.

“On the flip side, we get to watch (kids) grow every day,” Chandler said.