14 Eden Prairie educators nominated for 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

Nominations for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award were announced on Jan. 29, and for the second year in a row, more than a dozen educators from Eden Prairie Schools are among the candidates!

With 14 teachers nominated, Eden Prairie Schools has the second-most nominations of any district in the state. Our exceptional nominees include:

• Marisol Alcazar Gerszewski, kindergarten teacher at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion
• Jessica Brent, computer science and math teacher at Eden Prairie High School
• Alan Hergott, social studies teacher at Central Middle School
• Lauren Koller, English teacher at Central Middle School
• Sean Laughlin, special education teacher at Eden Prairie High School
• Stacy Natal, TOSA/Interventionist at Prairie View Elementary
• Monica Nichols, Spanish teacher at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion
• Anna Nystrom, 1st grade teacher at Cedar Ridge Elementary
• Katie Teslow, 5th grade teacher at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion
• Jeff Thelen, 4th grade teacher at Forest Hills Elementary
• Isabella Vermedahl, 2nd grade teacher at Prairie View Elementary
• Maria Villavicencio, 3rd grade teacher at Eden Lake Elementary
• Lisa Warbritton, 1st grade teacher at Prairie View Elementary
• Erin Webster, English teacher at Central Middle School

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award honors excellence in teaching in preK through 12th grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education. Next up: A selection panel will review candidates' portfolios and narrow the nominees down to a group of semifinalists and finalists. The 62nd Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be named at a banquet on May 3 at Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Congratulations, teachers — we’re cheering you on!