31 May 2024
DULUTH — Denfeld High School teacher John Hotaling isn’t comfortable with being recognized as an individual.
In his work as a teacher with Positive Alternative Within School, of PAWS, he said that collaboration among the team of educators, social workers, administration, parents and students makes the program work — not any individual.
So when Hotaling earned the 2024 Goldfine Gold Star Teacher Award, he was quick to share the recognition with his colleagues.
“While I’m the one speaking tonight, I’m accepting this recognition on behalf of the entire Denfeld behavior support team,” Hotaling said. “They work tirelessly to improve our abilities to support Denfeld students. … I’m overwhelmed by the team’s effort, both individually and collectively, to nurture our students’ well-being and efficacy through the days, weeks, months and years.”
PAWS provides a space for students who would otherwise be suspended to process their emotions and decisions, build skills and find resources to help them resolve issues in the future. The program uses restorative practices to help students reflect on their behavior and find ways to make amends.
Hotaling said that the program had its fair share of growing pains and that even two years in, they’re still learning how to do things better.
He joined PAWS in its initial year, 2022-23, while it was still being formed. Hotaling heard about the idea and while he was initially hesitant because he didn’t want to miss out on time interacting with students, he was persuaded to apply when he learned how much contact he’d continue to have.
“To me, that’s the biggest thing. Interacting with students is what recharges the batteries as much as it drains them on some days,” Hotaling said. “And when I found out I’d continue to have contact with students, I agreed to join.”
Five positions were funded for the program, but the week before the school year started, only Hotaling and his colleague, Jenna Griffin, were in place and the teaching positions they’d moved from were still vacant. Hotaling tracked down Denfeld Principal Tom Tusken to ask if they were still going forward with the program.
“He said, ‘If you and Jenna start your year in a classroom, I don’t know if we’re going to get you out.’ So I gave him a fist bump and said, ‘Let’s do this.'” Hotaling said. “Tom had to come to work on Tuesday and tell families that their students didn’t have teachers yet. He had to put his name on an airplane that he wasn’t sure could get off the runway.”
According to Tusken, PAWS has reduced the total number of suspension days by 68% and the total number of suspensions by 49%.
“There are not enough words that I can say, in admiration of the work he does with our kids,” Tusken said of Hotaling at the award ceremony. “He is a great listener. He’s a great redirector. He holds our kids really accountable.”
“If a student doesn’t know how to read, we teach that student to read,” Hotaling said. “If a student doesn’t know how to do their math problems, we teach them how to do math. Unfortunately, if a student doesn’t know how we expect them to behave, we punish that student. We’ve come a long way in just our two years of programming.”
Hotaling is also a member of the Educational Equity Advisory Committee, which works to reduce and eliminate disparities in how students are disciplined. He has also led the fishing club and eco club, making sure students have opportunities to interact with nature.
Originally from Ely, Hotaling went to college and spent several years teaching in the Twin Cities. Before moving to Duluth with his partner, Hotaling taught at an international high school where students were English language learners who moved to the U.S.
“It was a very tight-knit community and I thought I’d never find a family like that again once I left,” Hotaling said. “But here at Denfeld, I’ve found it. I feel like I landed at Denfeld somewhat by accident, but I’ve always wanted to stay by choice. The students never cease to amaze me and the staff are so supportive.”
With the award, Hotaling received $5,000 from the Goldfine family. He said he wants to use the funds as a scholarship for PAWS students.
Hotaling was selected from a pool of five secondary teachers. The award alternates each year between elementary and secondary teachers. The other teachers nominated included Carla Meneghini, Cheryl Kurosky, Jennifer Fuchs and Angie Lussier.
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