Ronald C. Hustvedt, Jr.

Salk Middle School STEM Magnet Program
Elk River, MN

Co-sponsored by:​

A middle school Social Studies teacher for the past 18 years, Ron Hustvedt has created a spirit of student-centered inquiry where students regularly engage in asking relevant questions and then acquiring, organizing, processing and coordinating appropriate information to take meaningful action. This process evolves and deepens throughout the school year depending on what students are learning about, but the core message remains--students are an essential part of the community and common (teacher and student) success depends on their awareness and involvement. He finds that what he is most proud of, and what defines his success, is the hard work and dedication of his students.

At the NCSS National Convention in D.C., held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Hustvedt participated in the Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year Panel: How the Outstanding Teachers of the Year Address Social Studies Education in Age Appropriate Ways and Make a Difference in the Classroom. The panel provided an opportunity for those outstanding educators to share how they bring their instruction to the next level and engage students in meaningful learning. Hustvedt was also part of an expert C3 Literacy Collaborative (C3LC) project panel titled “Teacher Leaders Taking Informed Action for C3” with his coworker Scott Glew, moderated by Professor Tina Heafner from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Hustvedt earned a Master of Education at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Applied Arts from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He is an adjunct professor at Saint Cloud State University’s Teaching Social Studies program and has made numerous professional contributions over the years through his presentations and publications. His other affiliations include: Magnet Schools of America, Minnesota Council for History Education, Minnesota Department of Education Social Studies Standards Implementation Team, National Council for the Social Studies, Minnesota Council for the Social Studies, and the Minnesota Historical Society.