Michelle Mees, fifth grad math teacher at River View Middle School and Dan Van Boxtel, a Tech-Ed teacher at Kaukauna High School are being recognized as 2024 Excellence in Education Shining Star award winners.

KAUKAUNA — Michelle Mees, a fifth grade math teacher at River View Middle School and Dan Van Boxtel, a tech-ed teacher at Kaukauna High School, are being recognized as 2024 Excellence in Education Shining Star award winners.

The program, sponsored by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce recognizes the outstanding contributions of full-time, Pre-K through high school educators in the Fox Cities region.

Mees and Van Boxtel received the news Monday during a surprise presentation. The official announcement comes later through a news release from the chamber.

Recipients will be celebrated at the Shining Star Award banquet on March 21, 2024.

“We are so proud of Mrs. Mees and the work she does with students and staff at River View,” read a post on the middle school’s Facebook page.

The high school wrote, “We are so proud of Mr. Van Boxtel and the work he does with students and staff at Kaukauna High School.

The two from Kaukauna are part of 10 outstanding educators who have made a positive impact on their communities.

From these 10 award recipients, an Educator of the Year will be chosen and announced the night of the event. This award honors an educator who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving the quality of education in the Fox Cities region and who has an inspiring presence that motivates and influences students, colleagues, and the community.



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By Dan Plutchak

Dan Plutchak, born and raised in Kaukauna, is cofounder of Kaukauna Community News.