Community Relations Coordinator
✆ (605) 367-7951
✉ Email DeeAnn Konrad
➢ IPC - Community Relations
Dr. John W. Harris
The award ceremony will be held at the Sanford Barn on February 23rd, 2026 at 7:00 pm.
The Sioux Falls School District proudly partners with Vern Eide Motorcars to present this prestigious annual award, honoring excellence in teaching.
Thanks to Vern Eide's generous support, the Teacher of the Year receives a $4,000 award!
Nominations
Nominations are now closed.
*A classroom teacher is a person who has a class of their own & spends at least three or more hours per day, five days a week, for six or more calendar months during a school year in a classroom teaching students. School counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers are NOT eligible.
38th Annual Teacher of the Year Nominees
Nominees | Location | Subject |
|---|---|---|
Jenna Albers | Roosevelt High School | English |
Mary Alexander | Lincoln High School | Special Education |
Peggy Amdahl | Terry Redlin Elementary | Kindergarten |
Emily Anderson | Lincoln High School | Math |
Drew Balta | Lincoln High School | Band |
Sarah Becker | Hawthorne Elementary | Librarian |
Rhonda Begley | Discovery Elementary | 5th Grade |
Holly Bickley | Edison Middle School | Math |
Heidi Black | Harvey Dunn Elementary | Art |
Cassie Blair | Jefferson High School | Biology |
Kayla Bolton | Laura Wilder Elementary | Special Education |
Jennifer Boyle | Harvey Dunn Elementary | Librarian |
Terra Brost | Anne Sullivan Elementary | 4th Grade |
Millie Brower | Robert Frost Challenge Center | 4th Grade |
Sonya Breyer | Susan B. Anthony | Special Education |
Dan Carlson | Lincoln High School | Band |
Heather Conrad | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | P.E. |
Tanner Cook | George McGovern Middle School | Social Studies |
Cindy Cummins | Lincoln High School | English & Yearbook |
Darcy Cunningham | Anne Sullivan Elementary | 1st Grade |
Eva Delgado | Edison Middle School | Spanish Science |
Kristine Dillon | Marcella Lebeau Elementary | English Learner Teacher |
Heidi Dooley | Robert Frost Elementary | Kindergarten |
Kristine Dykstra | John Harris Elementary | 1st Grade |
Joey Edberg | Jefferson High School | English |
Allison Engel | Susan B. Anthony Elementary | 2nd Grade |
Megan Erickson | Eugene Field A+ Elementary | All Grades |
Brooke Estep | John Harris Elementary | Kindergarten |
Kim Euchner | R.F. Pettigrew Elementary | Special Education |
Grace Feterl | Jefferson High School | Math |
Cristen Fitzler | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | Special Education |
Elsa Flores | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | 3rd Grade |
Danielle Goscicki | Terry Redlin Elementary | Special Education |
Vanessa Graning | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | Kindergarten |
Nicole Groen | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | English Specific Skills |
Eliana Gutierrez | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | 3rd Grade |
Emmanuel Gyasi | Hawthorne Elementary | 5th Grade |
Patty Hansen | Memorial Middle School | Social Studies |
Bryar Hansen-Legesse | Terry Redlin Elementary | 3rd Grade |
Justina Hayzlett | John Harris Elementary | 2nd Grade |
Amy Heinert | Ben Reifel Middle School | Librarian |
Kimberly Herr | John F. Kennedy Elementary | Special Education |
Evelin Hernandez | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | 2nd Grade |
Steve Hirsch | Jefferson High School | Home Maintenance, Wood Tech |
Meilssa Hittner | Jefferson High School | Science |
Shannon Hohwieler | John Harris Elementary | Kindergarten |
Brandi Ivey | Robert Frost Challenge Center | 2nd Grade |
Holly Johnson | Rosa Parks Elementary | Kindergarten |
Catherine (Cathy) Kayl | Terry Redlin Elementary | 2nd Grade |
Brittney Kempf | Susan B. Anthony Elementary | Music |
Jessica Knigge | Robert Frost Elementary | 1st Grade |
Elizabeth "Betsy" Kringen | Anne Sullivan Elementary | 4th Grade |
Shayla Kruse | George McGovern Middle School | Science |
Cassa Kuhl | Cleveland Elementary | 1st Grade |
Esperanza Langle | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | 2nd Grade |
Adrian Ledesma | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | 1st Grade |
Sarah Leonard | Roosevelt High School | Psychology |
Stephanie Lettau | Jefferson High School | Math |
Wendy Long | Edison Middle School | Math |
Emma Lux | John Harris Elementary | 3rd Grade |
Stacy Marnach | Cleveland Elementary | 4th Grade |
Ann Matthies | Rosa Parks Elementary | 4th Grade |
Rickie McCaulsky | CTE Academy | Automotive & Diesel Mechanics |
Yubeth Medina-Olaya | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School | 4th Grade |
Laureen Mehlert | CTE Academy | Aviation & Media |
Carmen Meyer | Lincoln High School | Special Education |
Allison Mickelson | Eugene Field A+ Elementary | Music & Drama |
Jennifer Morales | Rosa Parks Elementary | 3rd Grade Spanish |
Tyler Murphy | Patrick Henry Middle School | Science |
Kaytlyn Mulford | Marcella LeBeau Elementary | Kindergarten |
Barb Newitt | Roosevelt High School | Physics |
Kelsey Nicholson | Robert Frost Elementary | 3rd Grade |
Kristopher Ohrlund | Roosevelt High School | Orchestra |
Mandie Petersen | Harvey Dunn Elementary | 1st Grade |
Jon Peterson | Robert Frost Elementary | P.E. |
Wilfredo Petit | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | 4th Grade |
Anne Powers | John Harris Elementary | 4th Grade |
Lauren Rhoda | R.F. Pettigrew Elementary | 4th Grade |
Eric Rice | Lincoln High School | Math |
Katie (Kathryn) Rick | Community Campus Structured Teach - Axtell Park | 18-21 Transition |
Marissa Rippentrop | Robert Frost Challenge Center | 5th Grade |
Jamie Rockvam | Susan B. Anthony Elementary | 3rd Grade |
Molly Rost | Harvey Dunn Elementary | Kindergarten |
Yenny Ruiz | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | 3rd Grade |
Lily Satterlee | Eugene Field A+ Elementary | Kindergarten |
Carrie Savey | Eugene Field A+ Elementary | Special Education |
Bethany Schaefers | Washington High School | Biology |
Allison Smith | Washington High School | Biology |
Amanda Stafford | Memorial Middle School | Social Studies |
Justin Stanford | Discovery Elementary | 4th Grade |
Robyn Starks-Holcomb | Roosevelt High School | Vocal Music |
Kayla State | Marcella LeBeau Elementary | Special Education |
Amber Sundvold | Edison Middle School | Vocal Music |
Erika Tarquino | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | 4th Grade |
Julia Thompson | Eugene Field A+ Elementary | Kindergarten |
Maria Toscano | Sonia Sotomayor Elementary | Kindergarten |
Meagan Turbak | Edison Middle School | Art |
Beth Versteeg | Eugene Field A+ Elementary | Librarian |
Stacy Warwick | Cleveland Elementary | Kindergarten |
Grace Werner | Lincoln High School | Science |
Molly Wilson | Laura Wilder Elementary | Art |
Ashley Winterton | Marcella LeBeau Elementary | 3rd Grade |
Susan Wick | Robert Frost Elementary | 1st Grade |
Sarah Yee | Anne Sullivan Elementary | Librarian |
Sue Zueger | Memorial Middle School | English |
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.
Past Winners
Teacher | School | Year |
|---|---|---|
Bruce Rekstad | Washington High School | 2025 |
Susan Thies | Garfield Elementary | 2024 |
Katie Ellwein - Distinguished Educator Award | Laura B. Anderson Elementary | 2024 |
George Hawkins | Jefferson High School - PBL Academy | 2023 |
Laura Wiebelhaus - Distinguished Educator Award | Eugene Field A+ Elementary | 2023 |
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 |
