(KNSI) – A handful of teachers in central Minnesota have been nominated to be the 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The award celebrates the tradition of excellence in teaching in Minnesota. There are 77 candidates from school districts across the state.
Eligible candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, Early Childhood Family Education, and Adult Basic Education teachers from public or private schools.
The nominees include Sauk Rapids-Rice Public School Special Education Teacher Trisha Bemboom and Rice Kindergarten Teacher Tina Douvier. Joining them are Sauk Centre Public Schools Social Studies Teacher James Schreiner, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public Schools Tech Specialist Janelle Field and Elk River Area School District Middle School Teacher Leif Voltz.
This year’s program will name the 58th Minnesota Teacher of the Year. An independent panel of leaders in education, business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropy will read candidates’ portfolios over the next few weeks and narrow the list to a group of semifinalists.
In March, the panel will convene again and choose a group of finalists.
Because of safety precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheduled Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet, set for May 1 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, could be postponed.
The candidates for 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, listed by their school districts or operating entities, are:
Kayla Host, Aitkin Public Schools
Kevin Gentz, Albert Lea Area Schools
Mary Betland, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Megan Rafferty, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Stacy Bauer, Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis
Lauren Trovarello, Aspen Academy Charter School, Savage
Jenna Fitzgerald, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Public Schools
John Schneider, Austin Public Schools
Janelle Field, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public Schools
Angela Fritzlar, Bloomington Public Schools
Niccole Goulet Jordan, Bloomington Public Schools
Beth McCoy, Bloomington Public Schools
Teri Roder, Bloomington Public Schools
Erin Karlgaard, Brainerd Public Schools
Jacki Kyllonen, Cedar Mountain Schools
Ariane Kokes, Columbia Heights Public Schools
Andrea Adrian, Crookston Public Schools
Debra Hannu, Duluth Public Schools
Nathan (Nate) Gabel, Eden Prairie Schools
Emily Larson, Eden Prairie Schools
Kassy Miller, Eden Prairie Schools
Leif Voltz, Elk River Area School District
Heather Stromberg, Fairmont Area Schools
Jennifer Hogan, Farmington Area Schools
Michael Bare, Fergus Falls Public Schools
Shelley Schoeneck, Fergus Falls Public Schools
Jessica Linman, Herman Norcross Community School
Karin Brinkhoff, Hopkins Public Schools
Sarah Gleason, Hopkins Public Schools
Scott Stillman, Hopkins Public Schools
Rachel Volkmann, Hopkins Public Schools
Jon Fila, Intermediate District 287
Ryan Rasmussen, Jordan Public Schools
Kristin Wishy, Kasson Mantorville Public Schools
Traci Raknerud, Lake Park Audubon Public Schools
Michelle Mitchell, Mahtomedi Public Schools
Pam Gabrielsen, Mankato Area Public Schools
Kevin Armbrust, Milaca Public Schools
Edward Barlow, Minneapolis Public Schools
Aberdeen Rodriguez, Minneapolis Public Schools
Diane Daniels, Minnetonka Public Schools
Stacy Schroeder, Moorhead Public Schools
Brad Hubred, Moose Lake Community School
Emily Dalen, Morris Area School District
Courtney Hess, Mounds View Public Schools
Ariana Lynch, Mounds View Public Schools
Tracy Wilk, Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District
Heather Olivier, Northfield Public Schools
Sarah Lancaster, Onamia Public Schools
Lauren Hoof, Osseo Area Schools
Mark Langlois, Owatonna Public Schools
Tyler Blom, Proctor Public Schools
Eric Zuccola, Robbinsdale Area Public Schools
Caroline Young, Rockford Area Schools
Ira Sanders, Roseville Area Schools
Amy Westland, Roseville Area Schools
Janice Bisch, Saint Paul Public Schools
Emily Manson, Saint Paul Public Schools
James Schreiner, Sauk Centre Public Schools
Trisha Bemboom, Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools
Tina Douvier, Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools
Jacci Lissick, Shakopee Public Schools
Claire Troxel, South St. Paul Public Schools
Younna Eiden-Giel, South Washington County Schools
MacKenzie Hildahl, South Washington County Schools
Kiersten Jaeger, South Washington County Schools
Andrea Welvaert, South Washington County Schools
Paul Houck, Southwest Metro Intermediate District 288
Maggie Lee, Spring Lake Park Schools
Tom Muschler, St. Charles Public Schools
Holly Becker, Wadena-Deer Creek Public Schools
Anne Bolsem, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools
Mara Drill, Westonka Public Schools
Lyndsay Geyen, Westonka Public Schools
Jodie Rasicot, Westonka Public Schools
Kendall Gonzalez, White Bear Lake Area Schools
Julie Hebb, Willow River Area Schools
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!