Teacher of the Year candidate field narrowed to 33 semifinalists

By KAALTV

(ABC 6 News) – The field of possible candidates for this year’s Minnesota Teacher of the Year honor has been narrowed to 33. An independent selection panel of 21 community leaders chose the semifinalists from an initial field of 132 candidates from across the state.

The panel will review the semifinalists’ portfolios again and review semifinalist video submissions in mid-March and will select about 10-12 finalists from among the group. The current Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Sarah Lancaster, will announce her successor at the annual Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet, scheduled for May 7 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.

RELATED: Minnesota Teacher of the Year to be chosen from 130+ candidates

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 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year are listed below, including the district, school, subject area and grade taught:

  • Fatuma Ali, Hopkins Public Schools, Hopkins High School, English, 10th-12th
  • Amber Amundson, Minneapolis Public Schools, Webster Elementary School, literacy, 5th
  • Mark Anderson, South Washington County Schools, Park High School, science, 9th & 11th
  • Jex Arzayus, Roseville Area Public Schools, Parkview Center School, art, 6th-8th
  • Wendi Delmore, Anoka Hennepin Schools, McKinley Elementary School, reading and math, 2nd
  • Burke Egner, Albert Lea Area Schools, Southwest Middle School, technology, 6th-7th
  • Luis Estrada, Spring Lake Park Schools, Park Terrace Elementary School, elementary education, 4th
  • Stephanie Groetsch, Alexandria Public Schools, Carlos Elementary School, elementary education, 2nd
  • Jennifer Hairrell, Osseo Area Schools, Maple Grove Middle School, Spanish, 7th-8th
  • Kari Healy, Mankato Area Public Schools, Mankato East High School, media specialist, 9th-12th
  • Molly Keenan, Saint Paul Public Schools, Harding High School, social studies/history, 9th-12th
  • Mackenzie Keimig, Mounds View Public Schools, Mounds View High School, special education, 9th-12th
  • Gretchen Lee, Badger Independent School District, Badger Community School, family and consumer sciences (FCS), 7th-12th
  • Angela Mahowald, Bloomington Public Schools, Hillcrest Community School, elementary education, 5th
  • Josh Mann, St. Michael-Albertville School District, St. Michael-Albertville High School, social studies, 9th-12th
  • Giovanna Margalli, Edina Public Schools, Cornelia Elementary School, elementary education, 4th
  • Nichole Markworth, Lac Qui Parle Valley School District, Appleton-Milan Elementary School, MMN Elementary, Lac Qui Parle Valley Middle School, music, K-6th
  • Joseph Melde, Inver Grove Heights School District, Salem Hills Elementary School, STEAM, K-5th
  • Lisa Neaderhiser, Anoka Hennepin Schools, Jackson Middle School, Setting III EBD (center-based) English, reading and social skills, 7th-9th
  • Lin Niu, Hopkins Public Schools, Eisenhower Elementary School, XinXing Academy, elementary education, 2nd
  • Sorcha Nix, Saint Paul Public Schools, Open World Learning Community, science, 8th-9th
  • Kathryn O’Brien, Mounds View Public Schools, Bridges Program, special education, K-3rd
  • Tatiana O’Donnell, Robbinsdale Area Public Schools, Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion, Spanish, math and science, 5th
  • Ryan Pedersen, Bloomington Public Schools, Thomas Jefferson High School, art, 9th- 12th
  • Bob Peterfeso, Jr., South St. Paul Public School District, South St. Paul Middle School, life science, 7th
  • Sherlyn Peterson, Intermediate School District 917 & Lakeville Area Schools, Christina Huddleston Elementary School/ISD 917 PACES Program, special education, K-6th
  • Fathimath Eliza Rasheed, Saint Paul Public Schools, Global Arts Plus-Upper Campus, theatre, 5th-8th
  • Richard Rosivach, Mounds View Public Schools, Irondale High School, social studies, 9th-12th
  • Joe Schulte, Sartell-St. Stephen School District 748, Sartell High School, technology education, 9th-12th
  • Linsey Strand, Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools, Cass Lake-Bena Middle School, science, 7th
  • Chelsey Tulgren, Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater, adult education/adult learners
  • Laurel Wiehe, Bloomington Public Schools, John F. Kennedy Senior High School, Social Studies, 10th-12th
  • Allyson Wolff, Hopkins Public Schools, Eisenhower Elementary School, Spanish immersion, 1st