Minnesota Teacher of the Year Linda Wallenberg named a finalist for 2026 National Teacher of the Year
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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minnesota. (Jan. 27, 2026) — 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.
Wallenberg, a ninth- through 12th-grade English teacher at Eden Prairie High School, is one of five finalists, representing Minnesota, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The finalists were selected from a cohort of Teachers of the Year from all 50 states, U.S. extra-state territories, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity. From that group, the National Teacher of the Year is chosen by an independent selection committee, comprised of representatives of national K-12 education organizations. Each finalist will advance to the final round of interviews in Washington, D.C., in early March. The 2026 National Teacher of the Year will be announced later in the spring.
“This is a moment of tremendous pride for Minnesota and for Linda,” said Dr. Heather Campbell and Jennifer Niemi, co-chairs of the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Program, in a joint statement. “Linda represents the very best of our profession — deep expertise, unwavering commitment to students and a belief that teaching is ultimately about helping young people discover who they are and who they can become. To see her recognized on the national stage is both fitting and inspiring.”
Wallenberg — known affectionately as “Wally” by generations of students — is now in her 50th year of teaching and is the 61st Minnesota Teacher of the Year. She is the first educator from the Eden Prairie School District to receive the state honor. A lifelong educator and mentor, Wallenberg began teaching in January 1976 and has taught every academic year since, inspiring countless students and future teachers along the way.
Her selection as a national finalist also highlights Minnesota’s long and distinguished history in the National Teacher of the Year program. Minnesota is tied for third nationally in the number of National Teachers of the Year produced, with four — a reflection of the state’s enduring commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.
“Linda’s recognition is not only a celebration of her extraordinary career, but a testament to Minnesota educators as a whole,” said Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota, the 84,000-member educators union that organizes and underwrites the Minnesota Teacher of the Year program.
“Every day, Minnesota educators bring passion, creativity and care into their classrooms,” Byron said. “‘Wally’ embodies that spirit, and we are proud to support a program that elevates the voices and leadership of outstanding teachers like her.”
“As educators, we know what magic in a classroom looks like. Students come alive, ideas flow and the energy is palpable,” said Dr. Jaysen Anderson, principal at Eden Prairie High School. “That happens in ‘Wally’s’ class every day. After half a century of teaching, she continuously shows up with the same enthusiasm and excitement as year one. There’s a reason her students remember her for a lifetime. What’s even more extraordinary is how she remembers nearly every one of the thousands of learners she has connected with – her endless collection of photos of students long since graduated is a living testimonial of her belief of ‘one student at time; one comma at a time.’”
“In Eden Prairie Schools, our mission is to inspire each student every day,” said Dr. Joshua Swanson, superintendent of Eden Prairie Schools. “‘Wally’ lives that out daily. In every lesson she leads, in every student she supports, in every colleague she champions, she reminds us of what exceptional education looks like. We could not be prouder and more excited that people across America will get to see the spark she ignites through her passion for education and her devotion to raising our next generation to be innovative creators, critical thinkers, strong collaborators and unparalleled communicators.”
Wallenberg graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a degree in English and Scandinavian studies and became Minnesota’s first certified Swedish teacher. She earned a master’s degree in English education from the University of Minnesota and has taught in Canterbury, England. For more than four decades, she has also served as director and a Swedish teacher at Concordia College Swedish Language Village in Bemidji, Minn. In addition to her teaching career, Wallenberg has been named National Gymnastics Coach of the Year twice and awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
The National Teacher of the Year program is administered by the Council of Chief State School Officers and is widely regarded as the most prestigious teacher recognition program in the country. The National Teacher of the Year serves for a year as a full-time ambassador for the profession, speaking across the country to elevate the importance of excellent teaching and inspire future educators.
Education Minnesota organizes and underwrites the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Program. Additional support is provided by Aviben, Education Minnesota ESI, Educators Lifetime Solutions, EFS Advisors, Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, Tradition Mortgage and Expedition Credit Union.
