Teacher of the Year candidate field narrowed to 25 semifinalists

The panel will review the semifinalists’ portfolios again and review semifinalist video submissions in early March and will select about 10 finalists from among the group. The current Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Natalia Benjamin, will announce her successor at the Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet, tentatively scheduled for May 1 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Education Minnesota, the statewide educators union, organizes and underwrites the Teacher of the Year program. Candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, early childhood family education and adult basic education teachers, from public or private schools. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year Program also receives support from the following organizations: Education Minnesota ESI, Educators Lifetime Solutions, EFS Advisors, Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, SMART Technologies and Expedition Credit Union.

Semifinalists for 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year are listed below, including the district, school, subject area and grade taught:

Edward Barlow, Minneapolis Public Schools, Anwatin Middle School, music, 6th-8th.

Mary Betlan.d, Anoka-Hennepin Schools, Jackson Middle School, English/language arts, 7th.

Emily Dalen, Morris Area School District, Morris Area Elementary School, elementary education, 4th

Younna Eiden-Giel, South Washington County Schools, Park High School, social studies, 11th and 12th

Jon Fila, Intermediate District 287, Northern Star Online, English, 9th-12th

Angela Fritzlar, Bloomington Public Schools, Ridgeview Elementary School, social, emotional and behavioral skills, 3rd-5th

Kevin Gentz, Albert Lea Area Schools, Albert Lea High School, math, 11th and 12th

Kendall Gonzalez, White Bear Lake Area Schools, Matoska International School, elementary education, kindergarten

MacKenzie Hildahl, South Washington County Schools, East Ridge High School, English, 9th and 11th

Lauren Hoof, Osseo Area Schools, Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts, elementary education, kindergarten

Paul Houck, SouthWest Metro Intermediate District 288, SouthWest Metro High School, English, 9th-12th

Brad Hubred, Moose Lake Community School, science, 5th and 6th

Niccole Goulet Jordan, Bloomington Public Schools, Bloomington Kennedy High School, vocal music, 9th-12th

Erin Karlgaard, Brainerd Public Schools, Lowell Elementary School, elementary education, 3rd

Ariane Kokes, Columbia Heights Public Schools, North Park School for Innovation, art, pre-K - 5th

Sarah Lancaster, Onamia Public Schools, Onamia Elementary School, elementary education, 1st

Ariana Lynch, Mounds View Public Schools, Pinewood Elementary, elementary education, 1st

Megan Rafferty, Anoka-Hennepin Schools, Mississippi Elementary, ESL, K-5th

Aberdeen Rodriguez, Minneapolis Public Schools, Thomas Edison High School, English, 9th

Ira Sanders, Roseville Area Schools, Roseville Area High School, economics/government, 12th

John Schneider, Austin Public Schools, Banfield Elementary School, elementary education, 3rd

Rachel Volkmann, Hopkins Public Schools, Gatewood Elementary, all subjects/literacy, 4th and 5th

Andrea Welvaert, South Washington County Schools, Cottage Grove Middle School, ASD/SPED, 6th-8th

Caroline Young, Rockford Area School District, Rockford High School, social studies, 11th and 12th

Eric Zuccola, Robbinsdale Area Schools, Robbinsdale Cooper High School, English, 9th-12th