S05E03 - Making Connections in Rural Math: Jeff Granrud, NREA Teacher of the Year

Jeff Granrud, the NREA’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, traces his path to rural math teaching to a timely scholarship nudge from a professor during a tough first year of college, then a formative student-teaching experience under North Dakota Teacher of the Year Fred Strand. Early confidence gave way to a student-driven approach as he adapted to how learners were doing math, listened to “unsung heroes” asking for more challenging courses, and focused on making the subject exciting, whether students love it or hate it. He describes the double-edged nature of technology in rural schools. It lets him share notes and videos easily, but it also siphons students into external online college courses instead of those offered in-house. Cohorts feel familiar across decades, yet more students now insist on being heard, including quiet ones who communicate in unconventional ways. He works to give them a voice. Granrud stays rural because it is home and because he values knowing every student in a high school surrounded by corn and bean fields. His advice to new rural teachers is to immerse themselves in the community, from throwing hay in 105-degree barns to understanding harvest schedules that pull students from class, because those ties reveal the culture and shape classroom relationships. As Teacher of the Year, his platform is firm and straightforward. Make connections with students through small, authentic moments, like painting school walls alongside art classes or wearing math pajamas during homecoming, because conversations outside the desk row change everything. Asked for a single wish, he splits the difference between tools and perception. Graphing calculators for every math teacher would be great, but the bigger wish is public recognition that teaching is not a nine-month, 7:15 to 3:15 job. Summers include graduate coursework and constant reflection aimed at sharpening timing, phrasing, and practice, ensuring that students and schools keep getting better. Guest Bio Jeff Granrud is a dedicated mathematics educator with nearly three decades of teaching experience at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Schools. A 1996 graduate of Mayville State University, Jeff went on to earn his Master of Arts in Education in 2003, further strengthening his expertise and commitment to student success. Over his 28 years at HLWW, he has built a reputation for engaging instruction, a supportive classroom environment, and a commitment to fostering both academic and personal growth in his students. Jeff’s excellence in education has been recognized through multiple awards, including the 2002 Leadership in Educational Excellence Award, the 2020 HLWW District Teacher of the Year honor, and the 2024 MREA Educator of Excellence Award. These recognitions highlight his dedication not only to his students but also to the broader educational community. Beyond the classroom, Jeff is an outdoor enthusiast who finds joy in sharing those passions with others. For more than a decade, he has led the Joe Woitalla Memorial Fishing Expo, helping take over 1,000 fourth graders fishing and inspiring a love for the outdoors. He also serves as a Minnesota DNR Hunter Safety Instructor and has coached high school sports for the past 27 years. In addition, he served 11 years with the Howard Lake Fire and Ambulance Departments, reflecting his deep commitment to service, mentorship, and leadership within his rural community.