Celebrating Excellence: Three MMSD Educators Honored with 2025 Herb Kohl Awards

Three exceptional MMSD educators are being recognized among Wisconsin’s best in education. The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation honored Lake View Elementary School Principal Nkaujnou (Nou) Vang-Vue with the Principal Leadership Award and East High culinary arts teacher Emily Sonnemann and West High English teacher Liz Mehls with the Teacher Fellowship Awards.

These prestigious awards come with $6,000 for each recipient and a matching $6,000 grant for their schools. Principal Vang-Vue was recognized for her strong instructional leadership, high expectations for achievement and character, and her commitment to a positive school culture. Sonnemann and Mehls were chosen for their ability to inspire a love of learning, motivate students and lead both inside and outside the classroom.

They are among 114 educators across the state being honored this year—100 receiving Teacher Fellowship Awards and 14 receiving Principal Leadership Awards.

Nkaujnou Vang-Vue

Since 2019 Vang-Vue has served as principal at Lake View Elementary School, starting each day by telling the whole school during morning announcements "I am so glad you are all here today." This sentiment echos not only in the hallways, but in the mindset of the ~70 staff members she leads; Vang-Vue is the first to acknowledge that receiving the Principal Leadership Award wouldn't be possible without her staff.

"This award is for all of Lake View," Vang-Vue said. "It's about every single staff member in this school that works incredibly hard to support all of our students." 

Emily Sonnemann

The Madison East High School culinary teacher does so much more than just teaching students how to cook. Whether it is learning about entrepreneurship from local business owners in the food industry, exploring sustainable and cultural cooking methods, supporting farm to table initiatives, or helping run the school's Food4U snack pantry, Sonnemann goes above and beyond for students.

"Ms. Sonnemann is the definition of ensuring our students are college, career and community ready," the Madison East High School leadership team shared. "We are lucky to have her at East." 

Liz Mehls

For 14 years Mehls has taught high school English, with eight of them spent at West High, teaching a wide array of classes from English Honors to Mass Media to Science Fiction Writing. After joining the AVID team in 2021, Mehls will see her first class of AVID scholars graduate this June.

"As a teacher, I get to live many lives. I’m literally never bored, and I get to meet the coolest people," Mehls said. "Young people have so much energy, talent, and purpose. It’s invigorating to grow old with them. Working with young people is truly an honor. Having amazing colleagues that support and challenge me is also pretty rad, too." 

West High Assistant Principal Lori Schacht Dethorne nominated Mehls for the Kohl Fellowship award, which she said has made her feel honored and grateful ever since. 

Congratulations to our MMSD award winners—your passion and commitment make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and our community!