Congratulations to Wayzata Public Schools’ teachers Polly Laugen and Lauren Sobota-Paxton for being selected as candidates for the 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Both candidates teach at Central Middle School: Laugen teaches 6th grade science and Sobota-Paxton teaches 7th grade math.
The two teachers are among the list of 131 candidates in the running for 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. An independent panel of leaders in the fields of education, business, government, nonprofit and philanthropy will study candidates’ portfolios over the next few weeks and narrow the list of semifinalists. In March, the panel will convene to choose a group of finalists. The 59th Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be named on May 7.
The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program celebrates the tradition of excellence in teaching in Minnesota. Eligible candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers, from public or private schools in Minnesota.