159 are candidates for 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year 
For more information, contact:
DOUG DOOHER
651-245-6141 (cell)
CHRIS WILLIAMS
651-292-4816 (work)
651-247-5539 (cell)
SAINT PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 26, 2024 – The 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be chosen from a field of 159 candidates. These candidates have accepted their nominations and completed the required materials to become eligible for the honor. The 159-candidate field represents the third-largest field since 2000.
This year’s program will name the 60th Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The program celebrates the tradition of excellence in teaching in Minnesota. Eligible candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers, from public or private schools. 
An independent panel of leaders in the fields of education, business, government, nonprofit and philanthropy will read candidates’ portfolios over the next few weeks and narrow the list to a group of semifinalists. In March, the panel will convene again and review additional materials from the semifinalists to choose a group of finalists. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet is set for May 5 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.
Organized and underwritten by Education Minnesota, the Minnesota Teacher of the Year program receives support from Education Minnesota ESI, Educators Lifetime Solutions, EFS Advisors, Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, SMART Technologies and Expedition Credit Union. 
The candidates for 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, listed by their school districts or operating entities, are: 
Scott Miller, Aitkin Public School District
Mary Bissen, Albert Lea Area Schools
Starr Kloskin, Albert Lea Area Schools
Deena Bayer, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Lana Johnson, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Stephanie Lunseth, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Maia Miller, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Tom Powers, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Kristin Rutz, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Jamie Weisz, Anoka-Hennepin School District
Lars Johnson, Austin Public Schools
Erin Koshiol, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public Schools
Jacqueline Stoffel, Bemidji Area Schools
Meredith Aby-Keirstead, Bloomington Public Schools
Sarah Dallum, Bloomington Public Schools
Jessica Hodgson, Bloomington Public Schools
Susan Maxey, Bloomington Public Schools
Valerie Petersen, Bloomington Public Schools
Jeremy Storelee, Bloomington Public Schools
Kelly Sully-Yackel, Bloomington Public Schools
Sophie Werner, Bloomington Public Schools
Jeff Anderson, Brandon-Evansville Public School District
Rebecca Buck, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District
Marie Hansen, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District
Robyn Van Der Zanden, Cambridge Isanti Schools
Krista Saxton, Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools
Susan Wagner, Crookston Public Schools
Brenda Maulik, DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science (Charter)
Amy Spinello, Eastern Carver County Schools
Maya Booker, Eden Prairie Schools
Katie Horstmann, Eden Prairie Schools
Suzanne Nieson, Eden Prairie Schools
Kathy Smith, Eden Prairie Schools
Rachel Spessard, Eden Prairie Schools
Kristen Strauss, Eden Prairie Schools
Kelly Thierfelder, Eden Prairie Schools
Sarah Fincham, Edina Public Schools
Nicholas Gaudette, Edina Public Schools
Jennifer Heyer, Edina Public Schools
Hawley Mathieson, Edina Public Schools
Christine McCarthy, Edina Public Schools
Bianca Suglia, Edina Public Schools
Katie Widen, Edina Public Schools
Alaina Zapata-Sirek, Edina Public Schools
Ashley Goihl, ISD 728 (Elk River-Otsego-Rogers-Zimmerman)
Stephanie Harding, ISD 728 (Elk River-Otsego-Rogers-Zimmerman)
Louise Ostlie, Fairmont Area Schools
Alysha Nelson, Farmington Area Public Schools
Sarah Stout, Farmington Area Public Schools
Victoria Techau, Farmington Area Public Schools
Stacy Dahl, Greenbush-Middle River School District
Rachel Bachman, Hastings Public Schools
Ben Lofgren, Hawley Public Schools
Susan Ault, Hopkins Public Schools
Sarah Gleason, Hopkins Public Schools
Monica Grubb, Hopkins Public Schools
Laura Jensen, Hopkins Public Schools
Megan Kline, Hopkins Public Schools
Edwing Llangari, Hopkins Public Schools
Tyler Martin, Hopkins Public Schools
Anna Muer, Hopkins Public Schools
Sara Roberts, Hopkins Public Schools
Jean Severson, Hopkins Public Schools
Donghong Wang, Hopkins Public Schools
Ellen Wu, Hopkins Public Schools
Jacques Youakim, Hopkins Public Schools
Kailee Byrd, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Public Schools
Laura Heuer, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Public Schools
Jon Fila, Intermediate District 287
Tracy Zahn, Inver Grove Heights Schools
Lori Wall, Isle Public Schools
Sara Bailey, Kasson-Mantorville Schools
Valerie Ashland, Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools
Tony Donkers, Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools
Holli Sauerer, Kimball Area Public Schools
Gina Meihofer, Lakeville Area Schools
Matthew Wanken, Lakeville Area Schools
Lyn Gwost, Little Falls Community Schools
Chad Kaddatz, Little Falls Community Schools
Erin Sabyan, Little Falls Community Schools
Cindy Roos, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Schools
Travis Miller, Mankato Area Public Schools
Katherine Melgaard, Marshall County Central School District
Stephanie Wohlhuter, Martin County West School District
Karen Adams, Minneapolis Public Schools
Tracy Byrd, Minneapolis Public Schools
Kenisha Diaz, Minneapolis Public Schools
Jason Jirsa, Minneapolis Public Schools
Ryan Olson, Minneapolis Public Schools
Shannon Peterson, Minneapolis Public Schools
Lindsey Thompson, Minneapolis Public Schools
Tracy Ivy, Minnetonka Public Schools
Christie Nugent, Minnetonka Public Schools
Angela Hase, Moorhead Area Public Schools
Kelly O’Leary, Morris Area School District
Michelle Morse-Wendt, Mounds View Public Schools
Shawna Poncelet, Mounds View Public Schools
Jessica Raaen-Tolzmann, Mounds View Public Schools
Amy Dorey, Northfield Public Schools
Beth Albrecht, Osseo Area Schools
Heather Bruun, Osseo Area Schools
Allison Fischer, Osseo Area Schools
Mary Gagnon, Osseo Area Schools
Christopher Gudvangen, Osseo Area Schools
Ryan Hennessey, Osseo Area Schools
Daniel Prody, Osseo Area Schools
Noel Raph, Osseo Area Schools
Keith Rishavy, Osseo Area Schools
Tiffany Walerius, Owatonna Public Schools
Mindi Brill, Pequot Lakes Public Schools
Isaak Anderson, Pine River-Backus Schools
Paul Young, Pipestone Area Schools
Heather LaRue, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
Sherrie Seidensticker, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
Erik Edmunds, Proctor Public Schools
Chad Olsen, Robbinsdale Area Public Schools
Jenny Peterson, Robbinsdale Area Public Schools
Gretchen Wurzer-Palm, Robbinsdale Area Public Schools
Kim Hill, Rochester Public Schools
Jerald Ferdig, Rockford Area Schools
Jennifer Miller, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan ISD 196
Susanne Collins, Roseville Area Schools
Kristen Lonetree, Roseville Area Schools
Emily Lockhart, Saint Paul Public Schools
Samuel Northey, Saint Paul Public Schools
Kathy Romero, Saint Paul Public Schools
Jamie Williams, Saint Paul Public Schools
Nicole Fuechtmann, Sartell-St. Stephen School District 748
Aaron Johnson, Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools
Rachel Mehrwerth, Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools
Rebecca Garvin, Shakopee Public Schools
Jennifer Johnson, Shakopee Public Schools
Kristina Pappas, Shakopee Public Schools
Amy Rutter, Shakopee Public Schools
Tyne Grefe, South St. Paul Public Schools
Robert Carrero, South Washington County Schools
Stacy Paleen, South Washington County Schools
Paul Pressnall, South Washington County Schools
Elizabeth Stueve, South Washington County Schools
William Neiss, Spring Lake Park Schools
Devon Bowker, St. Cloud Area Schools
Angela Haus, St. Cloud Area Schools
Jean Voigt, St. Cloud Area Schools
Julie Wieczorek, St. Francis Area Schools
Heidi Wold, St. Francis Area Schools
Rachel Betterley, St. Louis County Schools
Joe Osowski, St. Michael – Albertville Schools
Mark Bullis, Waconia Public Schools
Kari Klein, Waconia Public Schools
Courtney Gray–Kuschel, Wayzata Public School District
Shannon Kelly, Wayzata Public School District
Kathryn Kottke, Wayzata Public School District
Jeff Prondzinski, Wayzata Public School District
Meredith Braget, Westonka Public Schools
Leanna Koepp, Westonka Public Schools
Mark Domschot, White Bear Lake Area School District
Melissa Wickert, White Bear Lake Area School District
Stephanie Frisk, Win-E-Mac Schools
Abigail Mooney, Winona Area Public Schools
