The Sturgis Area Community Foundation (SACF) recently announced Sturgis Public Schools teacher Tyson Dilts as the recipient of the 2023 John E. Oster Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dilts accepted the award last Friday night at the Sturgis Area Community Foundation’s annual Impact Celebration at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts.  

The Oster Award is given annually to a teacher in the Sturgis Public School District who exemplifies high professional standards for teacher training and education, extraordinary devotion to the Sturgis community and the position of teacher, and whose efforts, training, and skills have reflected upon the value of education to the teacher’s students and the quality of education in the Sturgis school system. The award is given in memory of the late John Oster, a Sturgis attorney who placed a high value on education.  

During the awards presentation Sturgis Public Schools Superintendent Art Ebert introduced Dilts, who has taught with Sturgis Public Schools for six years and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. Dr. Ebert shared that throughout his time with Sturgis Public Schools Dilts has gone above and beyond to serve his classroom and community.  

“In addition to teaching first grade at Wenzel School during the day, Tyson also teaches Adult Education in the evening,” Ebert said. Dr. Ebert also shared comments from Dilts’ peers with one comment summing him up as “just amazing.”  

Dilts also serves as a math tutor, summer school teacher, and is an active member of the Sturgis Lions Club.  

“The impact of teaching goes far beyond what you ever know,” Dilts said. “You don’t do it for the accolades. Seeing the community need, that’s what inspires me the most. Giving back and helping in the community where I can is important to me. That’s one of the reasons why I also teach adult ed, to make a full-circle impact. It takes a village to raise a child.”