Home Press Release 11 selected as 2026 Teacher of the Year finalists

Eleven educators selected as 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists

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For more information, contact:

DOUG DOOHER
651-245-6141 (cell

CHRIS WILLIAMS
651-292-4816 (work) 
651-247-5539 (cell)

ST. PAUL, Minnesota. April 3, 2026 – The 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be chosen from a group of 11 teachers who have been named finalists in the program. An independent selection panel of 22 leaders in the areas of education, business, government and nonprofits selected the finalists from a group of 30 semifinalists. There were 128 candidates for this program year.

Top row (left to right): Devon Bowker, David Davis, Shannon Dodson, Paige Janorschke. Middle row (left to right): Alli Kildahl, Amy Phung, Isaiah Pritzl. Bottom row (left to right): Ricardo Rivera, Thomas Rosengren, Sher Unruh-Friesen, Maria Villavicencio.

The selection panel meets again May 2 to conduct individual interviews with each of the 11 finalists and to cast votes for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. For a look at how the selection process works, go to https://educationminnesota.org/news/awards-and-honors/teacher-of-the-year/

The 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Linda Wallenberg of Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, will announce this year’s honoree at a banquet at the Saint Paul RiverCentre May 3. Banquet tickets can be purchased through EventLeaf.

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, Expedition Credit Union, Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation and SMART Technologies.

The 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year 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
  • Thomas Rosengren, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 5-12, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District, sixth grade
  • Sher Unruh-Friesen,Glen Lake Elementary, Hopkins Public Schools, special education, K-6
  • Maria Villavicencio,Eden Lake Elementary, Eden Prairie Schools, third grade

Note: Education Minnesota can provide a publication-quality version of the finalists image upon request.  

About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.