Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year

Nominations for the 35th Annual Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year Award will be open soon!
Stop back later.

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

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

2023 Nominees

Last Name	First Name	School	Grade or Subject

*Indicate Finalists

DeeAnn Konrad

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