Focus on racial achievement gap, says Minn. Teacher of the Year

A 10th-grade English teacher at Edina High School has been named Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Jackie Roehl has taught since 1998 and works to improve minority student achievement. She says the union wanted to send a message that addressing the achievement gap -- even in places like Edina with relatively small minority populations -- is important.

Yesterday we brought you a story about whether the achievement gap should be focused as a racial achievement gap or an income gap. We heard from researchers and teachers who all said the answer has to be both to some degree --- but who argued that race or poverty should get more of the focus.

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