Home Press Release 2026 Teacher of the Year to be named Sunday

2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year to be named Sunday

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For more information, contact:
DOUG DOOHER
651-245-6141 (cell) 

CHRIS WILLIAMS
651-247-5539 (cell)

ST. PAUL, Minnesota. April 30, 2026 – The new Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be named this Sunday, May 3. The Saint Paul RiverCentre hosts this year’s Teacher of the Year event.  

Linda Wallenberg, the current Minnesota Teacher of the Year, will announce her successor at the ceremony. This is the 62nd year for the program. Minnesota has produced four National Teachers of the Year, more than any state except Washington and California.  

The ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. in Ballrooms A&B at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. The surprise announcement of the new Teacher of the Year should take place between 2:30 and 3 p.m. The announcement itself will be broadcast live on Facebook on the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Facebook page between 2:30-3 p.m.   

NOTE: Reporters attending the event are advised to arrive by at least 2:15 p.m. The new Teacher of the Year will be available for interviews on-site immediately following the ceremony May 3 and during the day on May 4. 

The 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will come from a field of 10 finalists. There were 128 candidates in this year’s original field. This year’s finalists (listed alphabetically, with school, district, subject and grade[s] taught) are: 

  • Devon Bowker, Apollo High School, St. Cloud Area School District, biology, 10-12 
  • David Davis, Park Spanish Immersion Elementary, St. Louis Park Public School District, music, K-5 
  • Shannon Dodson, Somerset Elementary School, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools, fourth grade 
  • Paige Janorschke, Lincoln Elementary School, St. Cloud Area School District, fourth grade 
  • Alli Kildahl, Battle Creek Middle School, Saint Paul Public Schools, social studies, 6-8 
  • Amy Phung, Meadowbrook Elementary, Hopkins Public Schools, kindergarten 
  • Isaiah Pritzl, Eagan High School, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan District, English language arts ELA and AVID, 9 & 12 
  • Ricardo Rivera, Kennedy Senior High, Bloomington Public Schools, career and technical education, engineering, manufacturing, and skilled trades, 6-12 
  • Sher Unruh-Friesen, Glen Lake Elementary, Hopkins Public Schools, special education, K-6 
  • Maria Villavicencio, Eden Lake Elementary, Eden Prairie Schools, third grade 

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be selected by an independent selection panel representing Minnesota leaders in education, business, nonprofits and government. The panel chooses the Minnesota Teacher of the Year from individuals who are nominated and who then choose to become a candidate. 

Education Minnesota organizes and underwrites the Minnesota Teacher of the Year program.