Education Minnesota has announced that 14 Eden Prairie Schools teachers are being considered for the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award – the highest number of nominations for a district in the state.
The program, run by the 84,000-member statewide educators union, celebrates Minnesota’s tradition of excellence in teaching. Eligible candidates include educators from public or private schools who teach pre-kindergarten through grade 12, Early Childhood Family Education, or Adult Basic Education.
A total of 142 candidates from across the state have been selected to advance to the next round of consideration. Semifinalists will be chosen in the coming weeks, followed by finalists. The winner will be announced in May.
The Eden Prairie Schools nominees, all from Central Middle School, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion, and Eden Prairie High School, are:
• Shelby Anderson, an art teacher at Central Middle School.
• Lieann Campbell, who teaches second grade at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion.
• Laura Eid, a special education teacher at Central Middle School.
• Kayla Fahey, a physical education teacher at Central Middle School.
• Rossigna Goytizolo-Blodgett, who teaches kindergarten at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion.
• Beatriz Hauth, who teaches fourth grade at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion.
• Lauren Koller, an English teacher at Central Middle School.
• Kristen Mantel, a reading teacher at Central Middle School.
• Michael Okwabi, a band teacher at Eden Prairie High School.
• Araceli Pastrana, who teaches third grade at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion.
• Michelle Rada, a math teacher at Eden Prairie High School.
• Marcela Roos, who teaches first grade at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion.
• Rachel Spessard, a social studies teacher at Central Middle School.
• Linda Wallenberg, an English teacher at Eden Prairie High School.
Learn more about the awards program on Education Minnesota’s website.
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