Wiste joins TEAM as new kindergarten teacher

TEAM Academy has a new Kindergarten teacher for the 2023-24 school year, Carly Wiste. This is Wiste's first full-time K-12 teaching job; she has been substitute teaching in the Mankato area since her graduation from Winona State University in December 2022 and worked as an Early Childhood teacher for many years. Wiste now has degrees in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and lives in Eagle Lake.

“I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember,” Wiste explains. “I grew up with a teacher for a mom so I have fond memories of helping out in her classroom with grading or other 'teacher projects' she had for me.” Wiste goes on to say she still has a news article from when she was a kindergartener herself in which she says she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. “I love working with kids and find it comes naturally to me. Overall, I can't picture myself doing anything other than education.” Wiste says it was the small class sizes and sense of community that led her to apply at Waseca's TEAM Academy. The charter school limits class sizes to twenty-five, with most grades being smaller. Wiste also says, “After doing my research and interviewing with them, I could clearly see the care staff had for the students and their success both inside and outside of school; I knew it was something I wanted to be part of.”

“Kindergarten is such a vital time in a child's life,” Wiste says about the grade-level where she will begin her post-college career. “I am looking forward to seeing and tracking my students' growth socially, emotionally, and academically throughout the school year. I know it is going to be so rewarding to witness firsthand.” She also brings a passion for Social-Emotional Learning, or SEL, to the classroom, which includes direct and indirect teaching of conflict resolution, turn-taking, how to be a good friend, and other life skills. “I believe it is something that should be focused on in every classroom. Growing up is really hard and children feel many big emotions throughout their day. It is so important that they are given proper tools to succeed not only in an academic setting but in their everyday lives.” Wiste's favorite book for children is The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi, which she enjoys because it teaches children “Growth Mindset” - reminding them that practice and hard work are necessary to become good at something.

Wiste grew up in Mankato, graduating from Mankato West High School in 2018. Her father is Rob Wiste, who works at Corporate Graphics; her mother Sandy teaches second grade. Wiste also has two siblings. Her older brother, Nick, is 31 and lives and works in St. Paul as a chemist; her younger sister, Holly, is 21 and will soon graduate from Eau Claire University with a nursing degree. About her sister, Wiste says “She is my very best friend, as we are less than two years apart, even though we are complete opposites.” By her description, Wiste’s family is tightly knit, enjoying time together at the cabin, grilling out, and watching sports – particularly football and baseball. Wiste's personal hobbies are relaxing with a good book, music, and shopping. “When I have a day off, you are likely to find me at TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, or Target,” she says. Wiste's friends and acquaintances can quickly name her favorite musicians, Taylor Swift and Harry Styles – since she spends a lot of time listening to their music and has seen both live in concert more than once. “Music as a whole really keeps me relaxed and grounded when in stressful times,” she says.

Wiste would like to thank TEAM Academy and the greater community for welcoming her here, adding “I am so excited to meet the kiddos at TEAM: I know it is going to be a wonderful year.”