Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists for 2024 announced

April 9, 2024

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2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Finalists — 2023 Teacher of the Year finalists pose for a group photo during last year's banquet to name the winner. The 2024 Teacher of the Year banquet will be held at the St. Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul on May 5 where the 2024 winner will be announced. Photo: Courtesy of Education Minnesota.

Education Minnesota, the statewide teacher’s union, has named 11 finalists for the 2024 Teacher of the Year award which will be presented on May 5 during a banquet at the St. Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul.

In a news release Monday, Education Minnesota said that Mr. Michael Houston of Harding High School, the 2023 Teacher of the Year, will announce this year’s winner.

The process began in the fall of 2023 when nominations opened on October 2 for a six-week period. The 11 finalists are from a group of 27 semifinalists.

Eligible candidates have to be Minnesota licensed teachers that have five years teaching experience in Pre-K through 12th-grade school or ECFE or Adult Basic Education program, and working directly with students at least 50 percent of the time.

A day before the May 5 banquet, the 11 finalists will be interviewed individually by a selection panel that will cast votes for the winner. The selection panel includes “leaders in education, business, nonprofits and government,” according to information on Education Minnesota’s website. Last year’s winner, Mr. Houston, is part of the panel.

The 11 finalists are:

The 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists. Top row (left to right): Rachel Betterley, Rebecca Buck, Tracy Byrd, Susanne Collins. Middle row (left to right): Sarah Dallum, Marie Hansen, Laura Jensen. Bottom row (left to right): Jason Jirsa, Michelle Morse-Wendt, Jamie Williams, Ellen Wu. The winner will be announced on May 5 at a banquet in St. Paul. Photo: Courtesy Education Minnesota

Mr. Michael Houston of Harding High School, the 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, will announce the winner of the 2024 award at a banquet in St. Paul on May 5. Photo: Courtesy Education Minnesota

Rachel Betterley, North Woods School, St. Louis County Schools, visual arts, 8-12.
Rebecca Buck, Gideon Pond Elementary, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District, music, K-5.
Tracy Byrd, Washburn High School, Minneapolis Public Schools, English language arts, 9.
Susanne Collins, Edgerton Elementary School, Roseville Area Schools, 6.
Sarah Dallum, Valley View Elementary School, Bloomington Public Schools, 5.
Marie Hansen, Burnsville High School, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District, AVID/English, 10-11.
Laura Jensen, Hopkins North Middle School, Hopkins Public Schools, language & literature, 7.
Jason Jirsa, Washburn High School, Minneapolis Public Schools, social studies, 9-12.
Michelle Morse-Wendt, Turtle Lake Elementary School, Mounds View Public Schools, 4.
Jamie Williams, Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School, Saint Paul Public Schools, U.S. history, 7.
Ellen Wu, Alice Smith Elementary, Hopkins Public Schools, kindergarten.