Submitted Photo Crystal Michels teaches a class at Minot High Central Campus.

Crystal Michels, an English language arts teacher at Minot High School Central Campus, has been awarded Teacher of the Year for 2023 by the Minot Education Association.

Michels began teaching 12 years ago in the Lewis and Clark School District. She now is in her ninth year with the Minot School District, where she teaches 9th and 10th grades. Her courses include language arts, honors classes, journalism, theater and a writing skills class.

Michels didn’t start teaching professionally until age 27 but took a liking to it at a young age.

“When I was little, I taught my brother how to read. I always liked helping people, so it made sense for me to go into this kind of profession,” Michels said.

Michels said she enjoys working with teenagers the most because they are learning how to navigate their way in life, figuring out their values and what’s important to them.

“It’s fun to hear them talk about it and write about it. They are a fun age group with an interesting sense of humor that keeps me on my toes,” Michels said.

Along with teaching, Michels coaches the Minot Competitive Speech Team and assists with plays in the theater department. She is a member of the Superintendent Advisory Committee and the MSU Summer Theatre board of directors, as well as a building representative for Central Campus Minot Education Association and an adjunct professor for Minot State University.

Michels holds degrees in English and in education from MSU and received her master’s degree in technical writing from Bowling Green University.