Minnesota educators vie for state's top teaching honor
Eleven Minnesota educators are on the cusp of earning the state’s highest recognition for teaching excellence, after being named finalists for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award. The announcement, made Friday, marks the culmination of a rigorous selection process involving a panel of 22 distinguished leaders.
A diverse field of dedicated professionals
The finalists, representing a wide range of disciplines and grade levels across the state, were selected from a pool of thirty highly qualified semifinalists. Education Minnesota oversees the annual program, emphasizing the vital role educators play in shaping young minds. The selected educators, listed alphabetically, include Devon Bowker (biology, St. Cloud Area School District), David Davis (music, St. Louis Park Public School District), Shannon Dodson (fourth grade, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools), Paige Janorschke (fourth grade, St. Cloud Area School District), Alli Kildahl (social studies, Saint Paul Public Schools), Amy Phung (kindergarten, Hopkins Public Schools), Isaiah Pritzl (English language arts & AVID, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan District), Ricardo Rivera (career and technical Education, Bloomington Public Schools), Thomas Rosengren (sixth grade, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District), Sher Unruh-Friesen (special Education, Hopkins Public Schools), and Maria Villavicencio (third grade, Eden Prairie Schools).
But there's a detail that adds another layer of significance: Linda Wallenberg, last year’s winner from Eden Prairie High School, is among five finalists vying for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award. Wallenberg, a veteran educator embarking on her 50th year of teaching, embodies a commitment to Education that extends far beyond the classroom.
The selection panel will convene on May 2 to conduct interviews with each finalist, a crucial step in identifying the educator who will represent Minnesota’s exceptional teaching corps. The process is far from arbitrary; the panel's experience—drawn from Education, business, government, and the nonprofit sector—guarantees a thorough and discerning evaluation of each candidate's impact.
The finalists represent districts stretching from Bloomington to Eden Prairie, highlighting the widespread dedication to quality education across Minnesota. From kindergarten to high school engineering programs, their classrooms are incubators of future innovators and engaged citizens.
The announcement underscores a simple truth: exceptional teaching isn't confined to any one subject or grade level. It’s a testament to the passion and dedication of educators who invest in their students, and it’s a recognition long overdue for those who shape the next generation.