BEA elementary music teacher Kristen Johnson gets students singing in music early in the day.

It is early on a Friday morning and the 2024 Blue Earth Area Teacher of the Year, Kristen Johnson, is busy preparing for her first elementary music class of the day.

As the young children begin to filter into the room, Johnson grabs her ukulele and begins strumming the instrument while singing to the young students.

But, she is not just singing to them. Johnson is engaging the children as she asks them random questions through the song she is singing.

“If you have an older sibling stand up,” Johnson sings and many of the students rise to their feet.

The song continues and the students, whether they realize it or not, are getting some exercise while smiling, laughing and having a good time. And, it is really hard to tell who is having the most fun, the students or Johnson.

“I love music and I love kids,” Johnson says.

And, while watching the kids interact with Johnson in her classroom, it is pretty clear to see the kids like their teacher, too.

“I love the variety that comes from being involved with music,” Johnson comments. “I have the joy of teaching the kids how to read, write and create music. They also have the opportunity to be exposed to music from different parts of the world, such as Ghana, which we recently studied. They also get to learn about different instruments, like the ukulele.”

Johnson notes that it is important for children to have exposure to music.

“Music helps children expand their knowledge,” Johnson shares. “It helps people be more creative and to think differently.”

Not surprisingly, Johnson has always had a love of music.

“I have been playing piano since I was five years old,” the Colorado native says. “I fell in love with singing and would sing wherever I was.”

She joined a kid’s choir – the Colorado Children’s Chorale – when she was in the second grade.

“It was a touring group and my brother was also a member,” Johnson comments. “I was in the choir through middle school.”

She credits her mother for instilling her with her love of music. In fact, Johnson took a similar path in the music world as her mother.

“My mom was a vocal music major,” Johnson says. “I received my bachelor of music in vocal music education at St. Olaf College in Northfield.”

And when Johnson states she loves music, she pretty much means all kinds of music.

“I am pretty sure my students think I sit around and listen to classical music when I am at home,” Johnson laughs. “They would probably be surprised to learn that as a teenager I listened to punk rock bands like New Found Glory.”

But, on the other end of the music spectrum, Johnson also loves swing music.

“I fell in love with swing music and was on a swing dance team when I was in high school,” Johnson shares. “My husband Paul knew how to do some swing dance also and we did some at our wedding.”

Kristen met Paul while both were attending St. Olaf. Paul is the BEA High School choir director and the couple have two children, nine year old twins, Sylvia and William.

“Both of them take piano lessons from me,” Johnson notes. “Sylvia loves dance and singing and says she wants to be a music teacher when she grows up.”

Johnson proves she was not kidding when she said she had a love of all kinds of music as she proceeds to list some of her favorites.

“Right now, the artists I am listening to the most are Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sons, Meghan Trainor and Blink 182,” Johnson says. “Currently, my favorite country artist is Miranda Lambert, my favorite bluegrass group is Trampled by Turtles (which is based in Minnesota), my favorite old-time group is Queen and when it comes to classical music, I enjoy Beethoven, DeBussy and Chopin.”

When she is not busy teaching, Johnson says she stays busy watching her children participate in their various activities.

“I also enjoy running, cross stitch and crocheting,” she adds. “In the summer we spend a lot of time at the pool, go on bike rides, head up north and just enjoy family time.”

Johnson says she strives to be involved with the students in other activities, and not just in the classroom.

“I am involved with the student council, the elementary talent show and the toy drive,” she comments. “It can be a challenge to find enough time to get everything done. I end up seeing about 300 kids per day in my classroom.”

And yet, Johnson feels the effort is so worth it.

“I love the fun things we do with the students – things like the dress up days,”

she concludes. “I want to make sure every kid feels welcome and make school a place they want to come back to.”