Celebrating Josh Watne
History Teacher // Thief River Falls Public Schools // 2025 North Zone MREA Educator of Excellence
When seventh graders walk into Josh Watne’s classroom at Franklin Middle School in Thief River Falls, they instantly feel it—acceptance, excitement, and the kind of energy that tells them something different is about to happen. Josh doesn’t just teach history; he builds a space where students feel seen, capable, and inspired to think deeply about the world around them.
A proud graduate of Thief River Falls Public Schools, Josh’s story comes full circle in the same hallways that shaped him. As a student who grew up in poverty and didn’t have a name that “meant much” in town, he remembers the teachers who saw potential in him long before he saw it in himself. Their belief became the spark that brought him back home to give that same gift to today’s learners—especially those who need it most.
Josh quickly learned he couldn’t rely on notes and textbooks alone. Instead, he created a classroom built on experience. Students step into the past through immersive simulations and role-play, becoming abolitionists, freed people, political leaders, voters, and everyday citizens who shaped the course of history. They argue, debate, empathize, compromise, and think on their feet. They discover that history isn’t something you memorize—it’s something you do. And in the process, they develop the critical thinking skills and compassion that will carry them far beyond seventh grade.
Students describe his simulations as “amazing,” “fun,” and the best part of his class. Colleagues call him a teacher leader—someone whose passion elevates the entire building, from leading the house system to championing school culture and community.
For Josh, public schools are sacred places where connection and belonging thrive. “I get to work with 150 people and know them really well every year,” he says. “There aren’t many jobs like that.”
Josh Watne is more than a social studies teacher; he is a catalyst for confidence, curiosity, and community—an educator who changes lives the way his teachers once changed his.
Congratulations Mr. Watne on being named a 2025 MREA Educator of Excellence in the North Zone. Mr. Watne was honored and celebrated in November at the MREA Greater Education Summit at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd.