By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

As you walk down the hallways of the New York Mills Elementary School, more likely than not, you’ll recognize fifth grade teacher Doug Salo. He has been teaching within the district since 1986 and was recently recognized as the Teacher of the Year, though you won’t hear him brag about it.

“It is neat to be chosen by your colleagues,” Salo said. “I’m honored, but I feel bad in the fact that there are so many other deserving teachers. We’ve really got a good crew here, a group of outstanding teachers. I’m honored, but at the same time, there’s a ton of really talented people here.”

Salo attended the University of Crookston and received a Natural Resources and Landscaping degre,e before he changed course and finished his teaching degree at Moorhead State. He said that his time involved with wrestling was a large influence on his decision to teach.

“It really kind of was wrestling that go me going this way,” he said. “I had a lot of success with school through that and through being mentored by Rich Ericksrud. Coaching is teaching. I found out that it didn’t matter if I was coaching wrestling or teaching math or teaching science, it was always about trying to pass the knowledge on. That’s probably the biggest thing.”

Coaching wrestling was a longtime portion of Salo’s career and he mentored students through the sport up until the last few years. He said that coaching and teaching really not so different. Whether it’s his fifth grade students or high school wrestlers, the lessons are universal.

“They’re so similar, it’s the same thing,” he said. “I try to tell kids, everything you learn in fifth grade, you’re going to use your whole life. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter—communicating with people, what you do right now, that’s what you’re going to use your whole life.

“Some students find themselves in fifth grade, or it might be in high school,” he continued. “Everyone finds their thing, maybe they don’t find it in fifth grade, but I think that’s the biggest thing for educators, they’re trying to find that thing that really is easy for those students.”

One of Salo’s favorite parts of his job over the years has been connecting with students and their families. He looks forward to seeing his students each day and tries to pass along that zeal for the opportunities each day provides along to each class.

“I’ve had the chance to connect with kids and families for a long time,” he said. “I’ve always really enjoyed people. It’s amazing how many families I’ve been able to get to know their kids and then moms and dads and now grandmas and grandpas. I’ve got to work with many families and that’s probably been part of the coolest thing about the community.

“Then all of a sudden I get Driver’s Ed. and someone from another community or even homeschool kids come in,” he continued. “I get a chance to work with so many different people. Everyone has a strength, everyone has a story. I think everyone always wants to blame things on kids, but kids are good. We just have to keep the standard high on what we expect from kids. They really want that—kids want rules and expectations—that’s a big thing as well.”

Salo saidthat he has learned that building a relationship with parents is a very important part of teaching. Being able to learn from and work out a plan with those most involved with a student’s life makes a world of difference.

“When you work with moms and dads, that’s where you learn the most,” said Salo. “Sometimes we’re afraid of that connection, but that is the key. Everybody wants the same thing, everybody wants their student to be successful. That’s the whole thing that makes this all work.”

Salo’s award is a timely honor as he decided that this will be his final year teaching in NY Mills. With a career spanning 40 years, Salo is looking forward to retirement and spending some more time with his family. He joked that he’s getting to be “like watching paint dry” in his final years of teaching.

“I think they felt bad for the old guy,” Salo joked about his award. “I care deeply for these people, they’re great people. I finally decided for my wife Becky’s sake, for my family—I’ve been gone all the time, working, building houses all summer long, Driver’s Ed., so I’ve done a lot of different things.

“I’ll be spending more time with Becky and my family,” he continued. “We train bird dogs, Becky and I—our big thing is grouse hunting. I spend a tone of time with my grandkids. I’m not going to change anything drastically.”

While the final few months of the 2024-25 school year begins, Salo can’t help but look back at four decades of teaching. Though the first year of his career was spent teaching in Waldorf-Pemberton in southern Minnesota, he is grateful that the other 39 years he has been able to teach in his own hometown.

“I’ve been so fortunate,” he said. “This is my community and I was lucky enough to grow up in a family and community that we aren’t afraid to raise our kids with expectations, to have leaders that can lead the young. I think we can’t worry about the rest of the world, we have to worry about Mills. It starts here and we need to work together.

“I’ve got my daughter, Kenna, as my teaching partner and we’ve got Lisa Stroeing, RaeAnna Wegscheid,” he continued. “We’re lucky enough this year, Mrs. Esala is helping us out. This Team 56 that I’ve worked with, it’s a really talented group of people.”

While Salo has held a few positions over the years, including wrestling coach, driver’s education instructor as well as fourth grade and sixth grade teacher, he settled in between in fifth grade and found that was the best fit for him.

“This is just a perfect age of kids,” he said. “They’re looking forward to everything, it’s a big time. I look forward every morning working with kids, I just do. I’ve just been really fortunate  that way. Every day it’s a big deal for them, every day is a new topic. I hope I made a connection where they’re going to pass something on to their kids or their family. That’s what I’m hoping for. Everyone’s good at something and I hope I gave them the power to enjoy every day, don’t dread anything, you have to enjoy every day. I hope I gave them that gift, because somebody gave it to me.”