ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release) – Aberdeen Public Schools retired teacher Ed Korbel is the winner of the 2025 Aberdeen Education Association Educator Plus Award.

Korbel received the AEA award on Tuesday during a welcome back event held at Aberdeen Central High School.

Korbel taught for 33 years, all in the Aberdeen Public School District.

“A past coworker described him as an educator who had a way of bringing his lessons alive, while demanding excellence of all students regardless of their abilities,” said AEA President Carla Clark.

During his 28 years at C.C. Lee, Korbel was known for his “work hard, play hard” mentality, Clark said.

“From his devotion to our community, to his smiling face behind our Golden Eagles concession stand counter, it is easy to see his ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality continues,” she said.

The Educator Plus Award started in 1991 to recognize retired teachers who stayed active in the community. The winner of this staff-nominated award is selected by current members of the AEA, which is the local chapter of theSouth Dakota Education Association (SDEA).