Community Relations Coordinator
✆ (605) 367-7951
✉ Email DeeAnn Konrad
➢ IPC - Community Relations
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Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year
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 who 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.
Teacher of The Year nominations will open back up in the Fall.
Past Winners
Teacher | School | Year |
|---|---|---|
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 |
Sarah Henrichs | Axtell Park Middle School | 2014 |