Rochester educator named a finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year
Rochester educator Natalia Benjamin is among nine finalists for the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award.
The finalists, announced Tuesday, come from an initial field of 75 candidates from across the state. A selection panel is scheduled to meet in June to conduct interviews with each of the finalists.
Benjamin, who teaches multilingual students and ethnic studies at Century High School, has been with Rochester Public Schools for seven years. A native of Guatemala, she participates in a variety of networks dedicated to addressing student equity, according to an RPS blog post.
The eight other finalists for this year’s award are:
Layne Bell, Hopkins Public Schools, Hopkins High School – Hopkins Achievement Program alternative program, language arts, 9th-12th.
Kim Marty–Goblirsch, Medford Public Schools, Medford High School, language arts, 9th-12th.
Todd Hunter, Anoka-Hennepin School District, Anoka High School, science, 10th-12th.
Eugenia Popa, Saint Paul Public Schools, Harding Senior High School, ESL, 9th-12th.
France Roberts, Wayzata Public Schools, Meadow Ridge Elementary School, elementary education, 1st.
Sandra Stephens, South Washington County Schools, Nuevas Fronteras Spanish Immersion, elementary education, kindergarten.
Jessica Stewart, Osseo Area Schools, Osseo Senior High School, social studies, 9th-12th.
Lauren Wheeler, Minneapolis Public Schools, Thomas Edison High School, fitness for life/health, 9th-12th.
Cover photo courtesy Rochester Public Schools
