Unity High School science teacher named state’s rep in national program

MADISON, Wis. (WLAK) – The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction named Brian Collins, a science teacher at Unity High School in Balsam Lake, one of five 2024 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year earlier this year.

Collins, who has taught for 22 years at Unity, was selected Tuesday to be the state’s representative to the National Teacher of the Year program.

Collins teaches general biology, AP biology, environmental biology, human anatomy/physiology, ecology, zoology, and ornithology at Unity.

“Brian is an exemplary educator, and I am so excited that he will be Wisconsin’s representative to the National Teacher of the Year program,” Jill Underly, State Superintendent, said. “His energy, passion, and commitment to his students and community are inspiring.”

“I am so very honored to represent our state on the national level as Wisconsin’s National Teacher of the Year representative,” Collins said. “I love seeing education at work in the quality of a person’s life and in the strength of the community. I am eager and excited to serve as our state’s representative, both as a teacher and as a lifelong learner.”

In addition to his classroom work, Collins is a football and powerlifting coach, chairs the district’s Professional Staff Development Committee, and helped create Unity’s Ojibwe Language Revitalization Club.

Collins will take part in professional learning opportunities as the state’s representative.