In just over a month, a panel of distinguished educators will select the Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
This week, the field was narrowed to ten. It includes teachers of all types - from a choir teacher to a speech and language pathologist who works with pre-kindergarten students. The winner will be named on May 4.
The 2014 Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists are:
Emily Anderson, Anoka-Hennepin, social studies, grade 12, Blaine High School
Gretchen Baglyos Reed, West Metro Education Program, choir, grades 6-12, FAIR School Downtown
Terrace (Terri) Evans, Anoka-Hennepin, library media specialist, grades 9-12, Champlin Park High School
Lora Hill, Winona, special education, grades 9-12, Winona Senior High School
Kim Jirik, Lakeville, speech language pathologist, pre-kindergarten, Crystal Lake Education Center
Billy Koenig, Shakopee, biology and ecology, grades 10 and 12, Shakopee Senior High School
Charlotte Landreau, St. Paul, history, philosophy and dance, grades 11-12, Highland Park Senior High School
Virginia Mancini, Mahtomedi, language arts, grades 9-12, Mahtomedi High School
Thomas Rademacher, West Metro Education Program, English, grades 9-12, FAIR School Downtown
Kathryn Kim Westra, Inver Grove Heights, elementary, grades 4-5, Salem Hills Elementary School