St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 29, 2008 – One hundred and fifteen teachers have accepted their nominations and completed the required candidate materials to become eligible for the honor of 2008 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

This year’s program will name the 44th Minnesota Teacher of the Year, celebrating the tradition of excellence in teaching in Minnesota. Candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers from public or private schools. Education Minnesota, the 70,000-member statewide educators’ union, organizes and underwrites the Teacher of the Year program.

The 2008 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced May 4 at The Northland Inn and Conference Center in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Over the coming months, a 25-member panel of community leaders will name a group of semi-finalists, and then finalists.

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year Program also receives support from the following organizations: The SMARTer Kids Foundation, The Northland Inn and Conference Center, United Educators Credit Union, The Harvard Club of Minnesota, Education Minnesota ESI, McDonald’s Restaurants of Minnesota and Pearson Education.

The candidates for 2008 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, listed by their school districts, are below.

Diane Heaney, Albert Lea Amy Wallin, Alden-Conger Olivia Bastian, Anoka Hennepin Dianne Schwartz, Anoka Hennepin Sherrie Voigt, Austin Thad Bowman, Bemidji Catherine Riewer, Bertha-Hewitt James VanderHeyden, Big Lake Angela Salo, Bloomington Art Seplak, Bloomington Cathy Eiss, Bloomington Pam Schilling, Burnsville Vicki Wintheiser, Byron Kathleen Tilderquist, Cannon Falls Kathy Nickleby, Centennial Jennifer Wenzel, Centennial Eric Songer, Chaska Kathryn Peichel, Frazee-Vergas Kathleen Raine, Granada-Huntley-East Chain Krystine Martin, Our Redeemer Little Lambs Preschool (Grand Rapids) Joe Beattie, Hastings Mary Pasch, Hastings Lynn Wanzek, Hayfield Roberta Wagner, Herman-Norcross Katharine Sween, Columbia Heights Kathleen O'Neill, Cook County Teresa Langton, Delano Megan Devine, Ely Rochelle Franzen, Fairmont Cynthia Griesert, Faribault Gary Abrams, Farmington Theresa Fett, Frazee-Vargas Kathryn Peichel, Frazee-Vergas Linda Bray, Hermantown Kathleen Schmitz, Hibbing Carleen Gulstad, Hopkins Carrie Lucking, Hopkins Rose Regan, Inver Grove Heights Barb Tvinnereim, Jackson County Central Cheryl Hogie, Lake Park-Audubon Kimberlee Pierson, Lake Superior

Emily Haag, Lewiston-Altura Jodie Tester, Mahtomedi Susan Benson, Mankato Brett Haugen, Medford Mary Jo Vickers, Milaca Derek Carlson, Minneapolis Renee Desarmeaux, Minneapolis Maria Singh, Minneapolis Megan Unger, Minneapolis Diane Weiher, Minneapolis Mary Fenwick, Minnetonka Kelly O'Leary, Montevideo Dale Johnson, Moorhead Natasha Mortenson, Morris Maureen Haqq, Mounds View Ardis Andert, Murray County Central Emily Otto, New Richland Hartland Ellendale Geneva LuAnn Mordick, Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate John Rutherford, Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate Dorothy Sankey, Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate John Bade, Northfield Barry Fischer, Northland Keith Jurek, Orono Linda Chamberlain, Osseo Jennifer Leslie, Osseo Barbara Ohnmacht, Osseo Julie Buryska, Owatonna Kerry Johnson, Park Rapids Kevin Young, Park Rapids Jeff Morris, Perham Sally Jones, Pine River-Backus David Dulas, Pipestone Nancy Siebenahler, Pipestone Shawn Beaudette, Prior Lake-Savage David Brown, Prior Lake-Savage Stephanie Kallio, Proctor Gordon Westendorf Jr., Proctor

Kim Daraitis, Richfield Steve Brehmer, Rochester Angela LaBounty, Rochester Lynne Meyer, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Lia Montesinos, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Barb Sackmann, Roseville Lisa Boehlke, Saint Paul Dana Boschee, Sauk Centre Valerie Martin, Sauk Rapids-Rice Elizabeth Zieman, Sibley East Susan Peichel, South Washington Cty. Douglas Cox, Spring Lake Park Lori Henry, Spring Lake Park Melanie Jiskra, St. Cloud Diane Hansen, St. Louis Park Scyler Shearer, St. Louis Park Carolyn Hild, Stillwater Derek Olson, Stillwater Anne Schaeffer, Stillwater Dennis Symalla, Stillwater Sharon Turner, Stillwater Thomas Wendt, Stillwater Dee White, Stillwater Mark Lee, Thief River Falls Michelle Spitzack, Triton Deborah Darchuk, Underwood Roxann Lewis, Upsala Peter Bohacek, W. St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Aaron Kapaun, W. St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Ann Marie Siegel, W. St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Kari Kreft, West Central Area Pamela Johannes, West Metro Education Program David Percival, White Bear Lake Cindy Walen, Windom Brian Sather, Winona Mike Traphagen, Worthington