Teacher of the Year candidate field narrowed to 34 semifinalists
For more information, contact:
Doug Dooher
651-292-4820 (work)
651-245-6141 (cell)
Chris Williams
651-292-4816 (work)
651-247-5539 (cell)
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 29, 2016 – The field of possible candidates for this year’s Minnesota Teacher of the Year honor has been narrowed to 34. A selection panel of 23 community leaders chose the semifinalists from an initial field of 115 candidates from across the state.
The panel will review the semifinalists’ portfolios again in late March and will select about 10 finalists from among the group. The current Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Amy Hewett-Olatunde, will announce her successor at a banquet May 15 at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Education Minnesota, the statewide educators union, organizes and underwrites the Teacher of the Year program. Candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade and Adult Basic Education teachers, from public or private schools. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year Program also receives support from the following organizations: Education Minnesota ESI, Educators Lifetime Solutions, EFS Advisors, Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, McDonald’s Restaurants of Minnesota, Radisson Blu Mall of America, SMART Technologies and United Educators Credit Union.
Semifinalists for 2016 Minnesota Teacher of the Year are listed below by school or district, including the subject area and grade taught:
Anoka-Hennepin, Nathan Elliott, Monroe Elementary School, elementary, 5
Anoka-Hennepin, Donna Escobedo, Metro North Adult Basic Education - Blaine Learning Lab, ABE-GED Prep, Adult Basic Education
Delano, Joe Lawrence, Delano High School, language arts, 9-10
Duluth, Michael Emerson, Denfeld High School, career and technical education, 9-12
Duluth, Joseph Schingen, Academic Excellence Online School, English, 9-12
Elk River, Julie Beaver, Zimmerman Middle/High School, math, 8
Elk River, Erin Rehnblom, Otsego Elementary School, elementary, 1
Best Academy, Minneapolis, Abdul Wright, language arts, 8
Hermantown, Jill Hansen, Hermantown Middle School, science, 6-7
Hiawatha College Prep, Minneapolis, Whitney McKinley, visual art, 5-8
Hmong College Prep Academy, St. Paul, Nicholas Fabeck, Biology, 10
Intermediate School District 287, Pamela Beatty, North Education Center, elementary, 3-5
Minneapolis, Elizabeth Neilson, Heritage Academy, language arts, 6-8
Minnetonka, Melanie DeWitt, Clear Springs Elementary School, elementary, kindergarten
Mounds View, David Wicklund, Pinewood Elementary School, student services assistant, 1-5
New Prague, Sean DuBe, New Prague High School, English, 9-12
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, Julie Swanson, Cowern Elementary School, elementary, 3
Northeast College Prep, Minneapolis, Lauren Craton, elementary, kindergarten
Northfield, Jennifer Lompart, Northfield High School, performing arts/ESL, 9-12
Osseo, Kristin Pengra-Anderson, Edinbrook Elementary School, elementary, 5
Paynesville, Jennifer Wirz, Paynesville Area Elementary School, ASD special education, 1-5
Prior Lake-Savage, Jill Selchow, Five Hawks Elementary School, elementary, 4-5
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, Heather Walseth, Rosemount High School, ELL, 9-12
Roseville, Maria Le, Central Park Elementary School, elementary, 1
Roseville, Cameron Radke, Emmet D. Williams Elementary School, elementary, 5-6
South Washington County, Kaarin Schumacher, Woodbury Senior High School, biology/AP biology, 9-12
St. Paul, Juanita Ortiz, Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet School, ELL/Latino Culture, kindergarten-5
St. Paul, Laura Weghorst, Murray Middle School, special education, 8
St. Paul, Mark Westpfahl, Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School, history, 6-7
St. Paul, Koua Yang, Harding High School, social studies, 9-12
Waconia, Aaron Olson, Waconia High School, vocal music, 9-12
Westonka, Susan Simonson, Mound Westonka High School, business/technology, 9-12
Westonka, Julie Thomas, Grandview Middle School, English/language arts, 7
Winona, Mary Cappel, Jefferson Elementary STEM School, physical education, kindergarten-4