Top Teacher

Wednesday was already the last day of in-person classes for one school in St. Paul. And we helped celebrate with an award for another one of our unsuspecting FOX 9 Top Teachers.

We're celebrating our Top Teachers, and on Monday FOX 9 made its first presentation at Waite Park Elementary in Minneapolis to celebrate third-grade teacher April Rachuy. 

While all teachers have received increased attention for the work they have done on behalf of students since the start of the pandemic, one teacher has been officially named the 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Eleven Minnesota teachers have been named finalists for Teacher of the Year.

Dana Gray, of Afton-Lakeland Elementary School, is the latest recipient of FOX 9 Top Teacher. 

Matt Lijewski, of St. Paul Central High School, is the latest FOX 9 Top Teacher. 

FOX 9 honored another one of the fantastic teachers in the Twin Cities this week.

Yvonne Johnson is a science teacher at Sojourner Truth Academy in Minneapolis.

This week Top Teacher honors someone who recognizes the importance of the "whole" student: Tom Deris of Glendale Elementary in Savage, Minnesota. 

It's the time of year when FOX 9 honors nine outstanding teachers for the FOX 9 Top Teacher Award. This year, our station is recognizing the teachers virtually.

Jennifer Swartout, a fifth grade teacher at Faithful Shepherd Catholic School in Eagan is the most recent teacher to be recognized for her work.

Our next award goes to Kaitlin Wermerskirchen, a kindergarten teacher at Jackson Elementary School in Shakopee.

The first top teacher is Nancy Berquist, a fourth grade teacher at Lakeview Elementary School in Lakeville.