Minnesota Teacher of the Year

06/23/2026

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year alumni welcomed David Davis to the family tonight!

05/06/2026

Here’s a nice story from KARE 11 on our 2026 MNTOY David Davis! https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1537668295069605&id=100064793467806

The 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year is David Davis, a music teacher at Park Spanish Immersion Elementary in St. Louis Park. https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/breaking-the-news/minnesotas-teacher-of-the-year-celebrates-students-inherent-brilliance/89-9b6a8830-cb35-4292-950d-231827a08bf6

05/06/2026

On this Teacher Appreciation Day, let's listen to the words of this year's MNTOY finalists, who tell us why they teach. Congratulations once again to them and to every teacher who is doing the work every day with our students to highlight their brilliance, elevate their voices and prepare them for successful lives.

05/04/2026

Day 1 of David Davis’s MNTOY year was a busy one, as he did an interview with WCCO Radio, fielded requests for more interviews this week, visited Education Minnesota’s offices and went to the State Capitol to meet some lawmakers.

He’ll be back with his students tonight as they perform original music at St. Louis Park Middle School!

05/03/2026

Be sure to tune in here between 2:30-3 pm TODAY for our livestream of the 2026 MN Teacher of the Year announcement!

05/03/2026

As some of our MNTOY finalists (and former MNTOYs Tracy Byrd and Michael Houston) were relaxing in the lobby of the Saint Paul Hotel, they got a visit from a special guest…Sen. Bernie Sanders!

Sanders asked them how our students are doing, and told them they have his undying admiration and support.

Tune in to this very page between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday, when we will livestream the announcement of the new 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year! 

04/21/2026

Congratulations to Leon Smith of Pennsylvania on being named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year!

At the same time, we could not be more proud of Minnesota’s own Linda Wallenberg, one of the five finalists for the national award. Over the past year, Linda has represented Minnesota educators with grace, wisdom and an unwavering belief that the classroom is sacred — a place where students are seen, challenged and inspired every day.

Her message has resonated far beyond our state, and her impact will continue to be felt in classrooms, communities and conversations about education across the country.

Congratulations, Leon. And thank you, Linda, for representing Minnesota so beautifully!

04/03/2026

Finalists announced! Congratulations to the 11 teachers who have been named finalists for 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year!

• Devon Bowker, Apollo High School, St. Cloud
• David Davis, Park Spanish Immersion Elementary, St. Louis Park
• Shannon Dodson, Somerset Elementary School, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan
• Paige Janorschke, Lincoln Elementary School, St. Cloud
• Alli Kildahl, Battle Creek Middle School, St. Paul
• Amy Phung, Meadowbrook Elementary, Hopkins
• Isaiah Pritzl, Eagan High School, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan
• Ricardo Rivera, Kennedy Senior High, Bloomington
• Thomas Rosengren, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 5-12, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City
• Sher Unruh-Friesen, Glen Lake Elementary, Hopkins
• Maria Villavicencio, Eden Lake Elementary, Eden Prairie

Full press release, including a link to order tickets for the gala MNTOY banquet May 3: https://educationminnesota.org/news/press-release/11-selected-as-2026-minnesota-teacher-of-the-year-finalists/

Graphic: Top row (left to right): Devon Bowker, David Davis, Shannon Dodson, Paige Janorschke. Middle row (left to right): Alli Kildahl, Amy Phung, Isaiah Pritzl. Bottom row (left to right): Ricardo Rivera, Thomas Rosengren, Sher Unruh-Friesen, Maria Villavicencio.