Facts about the Teacher of the Year Program

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program has recognized excellence in teaching in Minnesota for 44 years. The program chooses one teacher to represent Minnesota’s thousands of excellent educators. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year and finalists speak to education organizations, community groups, students, teachers, legislators and media.
Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in public, private or parochial schools may be nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Nominees must hold at least a bachelor’s degree and a license to teach in Minnesota, must have taught at least three years, and intend to continue teaching. Colleagues, students, parents, other school personnel or anyone else may nominate teachers for this honor.
To enter the state program, nominees submit a candidate portfolio, which includes a nomination form, their teaching philosophy, professional accomplishments and letters of recommendation. Between 100 and 150 educators annually submit portfolios for the program. This year, 115 educators submitted portfolios.
A panel of 20 to 25 judges selects the Teacher of the Year, choosing first a group of semifinalists in January and then finalists in March.
Minnesota’s commissioner of education nominates the Minnesota Teacher of the Year for the National Teacher of the Year program. The national program is sponsored by ING, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers.
Four Minnesotans have been named 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 costs are underwritten by Education Minnesota, with support from Education Minnesota ESI, the Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, McDonald’s Restaurants of Minnesota, The Northland Inn and Conference Center, Pearson Education, The SMARTer Kids Foundation, Teacher Federal Credit Union and United Educators Credit Union.

Quick Links

Especially for