2026

The field of possible candidates for this year’s Minnesota Teacher of the Year honor has been narrowed to 30.

A coalition of Minnesota school districts and educators filed a federal lawsuit today in U.S. District Court seeking to block the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting immigration enforcement activity on or near public schools.

Education Minnesota will be joined by educators from throughout the state to give an important update about ICE operations and public schools at a news conference at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Minnesota State Capitol. 

The 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be chosen from a field of 128 candidates.

Linda Wallenberg, the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, has been named one of five finalists for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, one of the most prestigious honors in American education. 

Education Minnesota called on Saturday for the White House to withdraw federal forces from Minnesota after Minneapolis police say federal agents shot and killed another Minnesotan.

Education Minnesota responded on Saturday to reports that the U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly opened a criminal investigation of Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

Education Minnesota President Monica Byron and local union leaders from across the state will hold a news conference Friday morning to call on Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stay away from schools.

Education Minnesota President Monica Byron released the following statement demanding ICE stay away from Minnesota schools in the wake of yesterday’s ICE actions involving educators and students.