2007 Maywood High School grad wins Outstanding Teacher Award

Michael Stinman, a K-5th grade music instructor at Treynor, Iowa, Elementary School, (with his wife, Liz) was named the 2019 Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Award recipient.

Courtesy photo

TREYNOR, Iowa — A graduate of Maywood High School received the 2019 "Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Award" at his elementary school in Treynor, Iowa..

Michael Stinman, a K-5th music instructor at Treynor Elementary School, was named the second winner in the elementary category in a surprise ceremony at the school May 29. KMA Radio and the Green Hills Area Education Agency sponsor the awards each year to honor teachers within a 40-mile radius of the late philanthropist's hometown of Emerson.

Stinman is a 2007 graduate of Maywood High School and a 2012 graduate of Hasting College. He is the son of John and Gaylene Stinman of Maywood and the grandson of Carl and Muriel Yonkers of Maywood and the late Pete and Lois Stinman, Stockville.

Stinman hopes that he's instilled a love for music in his students. Upon receiving the award, he said, "I love coming to work with every single one of you, every single day. My wife and my family can attest to how much time I dedicate here. I could care less how much time I do, because my impact that I try to give to you (the students) is most important."

He continued, "Whether or not you go on and do something with music beyond elementary, beyond middle school, beyond high school, college, vocational, career — whatever the case may be — is that you have a love and a passion for music … that 30 years down the line, when you have your baby come along, that you're able to sing lullabies, and do wonderful things for your children."

Each award recipient receives $10,000, with $2,500 going to their schools.