Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists narrowed down to 40; Woodson Kindergarten teacher misses the cut
Published 8:54 am Wednesday, February 27, 2019
- Woodson Kindergarden Center teacher Alisha Galle reacts after seeing her family in November when she was named Austin Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Galle missed out on the cut to 40. Herald file photo
After reviewing 168 teachers across the the state, only 40 semi-finalists will be heading on to be named the Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year.
A selection panel of 23 community leaders chose the semi-finalists from the initial field of 168 candidates statewide. The panel will review the semi-finalists portfolios again, and review semi-finalist video submissions in late March and will choose about 10 finalists from within the group.
The winner will be announced at the May 5 banquet held at St. Paul RiverCentre in the Twin Cities by current Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Kelly D. Holstine.
Alisha Galle, a Woodson Kindergarten Center teacher, won Austin’s 2019 Teacher of the Year; however, she did not make the final rounds at the statewide level.
Education Minnesota, the statewide educators union, organizes and underwrites the Teacher of the Year program, and candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and adult basic education teachers from public or private schools.
Minnesota Teacher of the Year program receives support from the following organization: Education Minnesota ESI, Educators Lifetime Solutions, EFS Advisors, Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, McDonald’s Restaurants of Minnesota, SMART Technologies and United Educators Credit Union.
