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Teacher of the Year facts

• The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program has recognized excellence in teaching in Minnesota for 47 years. The program selects one teacher to represent the state’s thousands of excellent educators. The Teacher of the Year and finalists speak to education organizations, community groups, students, legislators and media.
• Pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in public, private or parochial schools may be nominated. Nominees must hold at least a bachelor’s degree and a license to teach in Minnesota; have taught at least three years; and intend to continue teaching. Colleagues, students, parents or anyone else may nominate a teacher.
• To enter the state program, nominees submit an entry portfolio, which includes their teaching philosophy, professional accomplishments and letters of recommendation. This year, 101 educators submitted portfolios.
• A panel of 20 to 25 community leaders selects honorees from the portfolios, choosing semifinalists and then finalists. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year is selected from a finalist group of 10-12. The 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced May 1 at The Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park, where all candidates are recognized and receive awards.
• Minnesota’s Commissioner of Education will nominate the 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year for the National Teacher of the Year program. The national program is presented by the ING Foundation, and is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers.
• The current Minnesota Teacher of the Year is Ryan Vernosh of St. Paul Public Schools.
• Four Minnesotans have become National Teacher of the Year – Mary Beth Blegen, Worthington, 1996; Guy Doud, Brainerd, 1986; Robert Heyer, Mounds View, 1975; and Roger Tenney, Owatonna, 1966.
• The program is organized and underwritten by Education Minnesota and receives program and award support from Education Minnesota ESI, the Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, McDonald’s Restaurants of Minnesota, The Northland Inn, Pearson Education, The SMARTer Kids Foundation, Teacher Federal Credit Union and United Educators Credit Union.
  

April 23, 2009