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ST. PAUL — Three teachers from west central Minnesota are candidates for 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
Local candidates are Kelley Heimerman, a math teacher at Atwater-Cosmos Grove City Schools; Kristine Bents, a Title I teacher at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public Schools; and Nichole Markworth, an elementary music teacher at Lac qui Parle Valley School District. They are part of a field of 131 teachers nominated for the honor.
The teachers listed in the news release from Education Minnesota have accepted their nominations and completed the process to be eligible for the honor. Education Minnesota is the largest education union in the state.
The winning candidate this year will be the 59th Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
The field of candidates includes pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers from public or private schools.
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In the coming weeks an independent panel of leaders in education, business, government, nonprofits and philanthropy will read candidates’ portfolios and narrow the list to a group of semifinalists.
In March, the panel will review additional information from the semifinalists to choose a group of finalists.
The Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet is set for May 7 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.
