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Pelican Rapids English Teacher Among 11 Finalists For Minnesota Teacher of the Year

By Zeke Fuhrman Apr 9, 2023 | 5:59 PM

(Photo courtesy of Pelican Rapids schools)

PELICAN RAPIDS, MN (KDLM) – The finalists for Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year have been announced and an English teacher at Pelican Rapids High School is among the 11 finalists for the award.  

John Peter teaches English as a second language to 7th-12th grades in Pelican Rapids and was announced as one of the finalists in a press release last Thursday. 

The group of nominees began with 132 candidates, which was then cut down to 44 semifinalists, then narrowed down to 11 finalists. The finalists were selected by a panel of “21 leaders in the areas of education, business, government, and nonprofits”. 

The selection panel will meet on May 6 to interview each of the 11 finalists individually, then cast their votes for 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced on May 7th at a banquet at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.  

Here are the finalists: 

  • Fatuma Ali, Hopkins High School, Hopkins Public Schools, English, 10th-12th 
  • Michael Houston, Harding High School, Saint Paul Public Schools, mathematics, 9th-12th 
  • Molly Megan Keenan, Harding High School, Saint Paul Public Schools, social studies/history, 9th-12th 
  • Bee Lee, Emmet D. Williams Elementary, Roseville Area Public Schools, visual arts, K-6th 
  • Josh Mann, St. Michael-Albertville High School, St. Michael-Albertville School District, social studies, 9th-12th 
  • Giovanna Valeria Margalli, Cornelia Elementary School, Edina Public Schools, elementary education, 4th 
  • Sorcha Nix, Open World Learning Community, Saint Paul Public Schools, science, 8th-9th 
  • John Peter, Pelican Rapids High School, Pelican Rapids Public Schools, English as a second language, 7th-12th 
  • Fathimath Eliza Rasheed, Global Arts Plus-Upper Campus, Saint Paul Public Schools, theatre, 5th-8th 
  • Joe Schulte, Sartell High School, Sartell-St. Stephen School District 748, technology education, 9th-12th 
  • Allyson Wolff, Eisenhower Elementary School, Hopkins Public Schools, Spanish Immersion, 1st 

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