Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year

TOY.png

The 2022 Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year event will be held on March 14th, 2022.

Nominations for the 34th Annual Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year Award are now open!
Nomination Submission Deadline is Monday, January 17th, 2022

Outstanding, full-time teachers in ANY accredited Sioux Falls school are eligible for the award and $4,000 in prize money donated by Vern Eide Motorcars! Classroom teachers that have at least three (3) full years of teaching experience, a class of his/her own and teaches students at least three (3) or more hours per day, five (5) days a week, for six (6) or more calendar months during a school year are eligible.

Criteria for Selection include:

  • Differentiates instruction based on meeting student needs

  • Designs engaging lessons to improve classroom and/or school culture

  • Inspires students to recognize their potential impact and role in the larger community

Additional Things to Consider:

  • The desire for professional growth

  • Community involvement

  • Dedication to the teaching profession

  • Rapport with students, parents, and staff

To be considered for Regional and State Teacher of the Year, the District Candidate should:

  • Have a superior ability to inspire students of ALL backgrounds and abilities to learn;

  • Be an exceptionally skilled and dedicated classroom teacher;

  • Have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues;

  • Play an active and useful role in the community as well as in the school; and

  • Be poised, articulate, and have the energy to withstand the demanding schedule that would accompany selection as the South Dakota Teacher of the Year.

District Teacher of the Year becomes a nominee for his or her district’s Regional Teacher of the Year Award. If the District TOY is selected as the Regional TOY, he or she becomes a nominee for the South Dakota TOY. If chosen as the South Dakota TOY, he/she then becomes a candidate for the National TOY.

South Dakota Teacher of the Year program

Ashley Kracke

Nick Opdahl

Past Winners

Teacher

School

Year

Ashley Kracke

R.F. Pettigrew Elementary

2022

Nick Opdahl - Distinguished Educator Award!

CTE

2022

 Ann Robertson

Whittier MS

2021

Janelle Revier

CTE Academy

2020

Lynn Thomason

Lincoln High School

2019

Kimberly Dobson

Horace Mann Elementary

2018

Stefanie Hage

John Harris Elementary

2017

Janet Swier

Washington High School

2016

Gretchen Johnson

Cleveland Elementary

2015

Sarah Henrichs

Axtell Park Middle School

2014

Allison Hutchinson

Career & Technical Education Academy

2013

Donna Leininger

Washington High School

2012

Nicole Gardner

Harvey Dunn Elementary

2011

Teresa Timmerman

Lincoln High School

2010

Cher May

Terry Redlin Elementary

2009

Barbara Myers

Axtell Park Middle School

2008

Sharon Andrews

Challenge Center

2007

Karyn Veenis

Patrick Henry Middle School

2006

Barbara Dowling

Hawthorne Elementary

2005

Brent Eliason

Washington High School

2004

Roxie Ahlbrecht

Robert Frost Elementary

2003

Sally Rice

Edison Middle School

2002

Jeff Lukens

Roosevelt High School

2001

Linda Carmody

Eugene Field Elementary

2000

Audrey Lofgren

Robert Frost Elementary

1999

Bob Dolan

Washington High School

1998

Alice Sylliaasen

Eugene Field Elementary

1997

Don Reiffenberger

Cleveland Elementary

1996

Don Decker

Lincoln High School

1995

Judy Davis

Patrick Henry Middle School

1994

Phyllis Kruger

Harvey Dunn Elementary

1993

Julie Ashworth

Hawthorne Elementary

1992

Lois Sudbeck

Little Flower Elementary

1991

Sharon Schueler

Roosevelt High School

1990

Joan Conner

Lincoln High School

1989

2022 Nominees

Last Name

First Name

School

Grade or Subject

*Alfson

Nathan

Washington High School

Special Education

Beisch

Tyler

Ben Reifel Middle School

Science

Berke

Abby

Lincoln High School

English 1 & Accelerated English I

Bertrand

Erika

Patrick Henry Middle School

Special Education

Bleil

Andrea

Robert Frost Challenge Center

4th Grade

Bussa

Susan

Roosevelt High School

Tier II- Behavioral

Chiarello

Mario

Lincoln High School

Orchestra

Colford

Vincent

Anne Sullivan Elementary

4th Grade

Costello

Robyn

John Harris Elementary

Kindergarten

Creviston

Michelle

John F. Kennedy Elementary

Kindergarten

Crosby

Heather

Lowell Elementary

Art

Dietz

Kyle

Lincoln High School

AP Environmental Science & Astronomy/Meteorology

Ehde

Ashly

Edison Middle School

6th Grade Math

Fink

Mary

John F. Kennedy Elementary

1st Grade

Fleming-Martin

Janet

Lincoln High School

Art & Native American Studies

Gohman

Sara

Garfield Elementary

5th Grade

Greer

Sarah

R.F. Pettigrew Elementary

Kindergarten

Hawkins

George

Jefferson High School

American History & Government

Hayzlett

Justina

John Harris Elementary

2nd Grade

Highby

Nicole

R.F. Pettigrew Elementary

1st Grade

Hohwieler

Shannon

John Harris Elementary

Kindergarten

Johnson

Trudy

Jefferson High School

Special Education

*Johnson

Diana

Garfield Elementary

1st Grade

Jongeling

Rise

Axtell Park Success Academy

Art, Science, Math & Photography

Julian

Elizabeth

Eugene Field Arts+ Elementary

3rd Grade

Kielman

Katie

John Harris Elementary

5th Grade

Knigge

Jessica

Robert Frost Elementary

1st Grade

*Kracke

Ashley

R.F. Pettigrew Elementary

5th Grade

Kroeze

Katie

Lincoln High School

Journalism, Newspaper, & Speech

Lafrentz

Emily

Cleveland Elementary

1st Grade

Lang'at

Megan

Hayward Elementary

Special Education K-3

Larsen

Julie

John F. Kennedy Elementary

4th Grade

*Larson

Erin

Edison Middle School

English Language Arts

McIntyre

Michelle

Washington High School

History & English

Mercer

Susan

Edison Middle School

8th Grade Science

Miles

Shannon

Lincoln High School

Special Education-Vision

Millar

Sam

Cleveland Elementary

5th Grade

Moon

Lisa

Robert Frost Challenge Center

3rd Grade

Moser

Kelsey

John Harris Elementary

2nd Grade

Naranjo

Victor

Sonia Sotomayor Elementary

Kindergarten

Nesje

LaDawn

Washington High School

Physical Education

Newitt

Bradley

Lincoln High School

Physics

*Opdahl

Nicholas

CTE

Carpentry

Pederson

Gary

Patrick Henry Middle School

Band

Petit

Wilfredo

Sonia Sotomayor Elementary

4th Grade

Powers

Anne

John Harris Elementary

2nd Grade

Pry

Payton

Hayward Elementary

3rd Grade

Ramstad

Tamara

Hayward Elementary

Kindergarten

Ratzlaff

Jamin

Washington High School

Learning Center

Rausis

Tanya

All City Elementary

2nd Grade

Reuter

Jennifer

Laura Wilder Elementary

Reading Interventionist

Rhoda

Lauren

R.F. Pettigrew Elementary

4th Grade

Rick

Katie

Susan B Anthony Elementary

Special Education

Rook

Shannon

Lincoln High School

ELA 3, AM Lit, World History & Geography

Rothenberger

Billie

Washington High School

Learning Center

Ruiz

Yenny

Sonia Sotomayor Elementary

Kindergarten

Runyan

Tricia

RF. Pettigrew Elementary

2nd Grade

Savey

Chad

John F. Kennedy Elementary

5th Grade

Saylor

Letisha

John Harris Elementary

2nd Grade

Scheff

Jennifer

Renberg Elementary

Elementary Virtual Academy

Schempp

Kerstin

John Harris Elementary

Kindergarten

Soper

Cara

Eugene Field Arts+ Elementary

4th Grade

Spoelstra

Mallory

Robert Frost Elementary

1st Grade

Sukut

Andrea

Terry Redlin Elementary

Early Childhood

Szwarc

Kylie

Harvey Dunn Elementary

2nd Grade

Thomas

Richard

Washington High School

World History, EL World History, & AP World History

Triadu

Eulalia

Sonia Sotomayor Elementary

5th Grade

VanHeuveln

Valerie

Washington High School

Computer Science

Wek

Anita

Roosevelt High School

English

*Indicate Finalists

DeeAnn Konrad

DeeAnn Konrad

Community Relations

P: (605) 367-7951