September 22, 2025
Jeff Granrud, 1996 Mayville State University graduate and Mayville, N.D. native, has been named the National Rural Teacher of the Year by the National Rural Education Association (NREA) and the NREA Foundation. The program honors the very best in rural education across the country. Nominations for any teacher in a rural community in the United States are accepted.
Granrud is a mathematic educator with nearly three decades of teaching experience at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead (Minn.) Schools. Over his 28 years at HLWW, Granrud has built a reputation for engaging instruction, a supportive classroom environment, and a commitment to fostering both academic and personal growth in his students.
Mr. Granrud has been recognized through multiple awards for his excellence in education. His accolades include the 2002 Leadership in Educational Excellence Award, the 2020 HLWW District Teacher of the Year, and the 2024 MREA Educator of Excellence Award. He is praised for his dedication not only to his students, but also to the broader educational community.
An outdoor enthusiast who enjoys sharing that enthusiasm with others, Granrud has led the Joe Woitalla Memorial Fishing Expo for more than 10 years. Through the expo, he has taken more than 1,000 fourth graders fishing, inspiring in them a love for the outdoors. He also serves as a Minnesota DNR hunter safety instructor and has coached high school sports for the past 27 years. He served with the Howard Lake Fire and Ambulance Department for 11 years. He exemplifies commitment to service, mentorship, and leadership within his rural community.
In his letter of nomination for the national award, Minnesota Rural Education Association Board President Dr. Boyd Bradbury wrote, “Jeff has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering a nurturing a learning environment where every student thrives. His passion for teaching and genuine care for his students are evident in every aspect of his work.”
His students back that up. “He always makes it a point to explain that everything he teaches is something they’re going to use somewhere outside of high school.” “No matter what subject it is or how hard it is, he always makes us laugh every single day.”
Granrud will be honored at the 2025 National Forum to Advance Rural Education in Salt Lake City, Utah this October.
Jeff Granrud earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Mayville State with a major in mathematics and a minor in business administration.