Minnesota Teacher of the Year nominees trimmed to 9 finalists

Finalists for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year award were announced by Education Minnesota on Tuesday. 

The nine finalists were chosen from a list of 75 nominees. They are: 

• Layne Bell, Hopkins Public Schools, Hopkins High School – Hopkins Achievement Program alternative program, language arts, 9th-12th.
• Natalia Benjamin, Rochester Public Schools, Century High School, EL and ethnic studies, 9th - 12th.
• Kim Marty–Goblirsch, Medford Public Schools, Medford High School, language arts, 9th-12th.
• Todd Hunter, Anoka-Hennepin School District, Anoka High School, science, 10th-12th.
• Eugenia Popa, Saint Paul Public Schools, Harding Senior High School, ESL, 9th-12th.
• France Roberts, Wayzata Public Schools, Meadow Ridge Elementary School, elementary education, 1st.
• Sandra Stephens, South Washington County Schools, Nuevas Fronteras Spanish Immersion, elementary education, kindergarten.
• Jessica Stewart, Osseo Area Schools, Osseo Senior High School, social studies, 9th-12th.
• Lauren Wheeler, Minneapolis Public Schools, Thomas Edison High School, fitness for life/health, 9th-12th.

The winner will be announced at a date to be determined, as the Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet that was originally scheduled for May 2 will happen later this year due to COVID-19. 

The winner will be selected after an interview process involving a selection panel of 24 leaders in numerous fields, including education, business, government and nonprofits. Interviews will take place in June. 

The 2020 teacher of the year was Qorsho Hassan, a teacher at Echo Park Elementary School in Burnsville.