Two Local Educators Make List of Final 11 for Minnesota Teacher of the Year

(KNSI) — Two St. Cloud Area School District teachers are among 11 finalists for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award.

Devon Bowker, who teaches biology at Apollo High School and Paige Janorschke, a fourth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, were selected by an independent panel of 22 leaders from education, business, government and nonprofits. The finalists were chosen from 30 semifinalists out of 128 total candidates statewide.

The selection panel meets on May 2nd again to interview each finalist before casting votes for the winner. The 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced at a banquet at the Saint Paul RiverCentre on May 3rd.

Bowker and Janorschke were among eight local semifinalists when the original list of 128 was announced in January. The others were:

Jodee Blair, St. Cloud Area School District
Lisa Hennen, Kimball Area Public Schools
Susana Manea, Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools
Vida A. Petersen, St. Cloud Area School District
Britney Soldner, Sartell-St. Stephen Schools
Lindsey Trimbo, Sartell-St. Stephen Schools

The program celebrates the tradition of excellence in teaching in Minnesota. Eligible candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers from public or private schools.

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