Education Minnesota announces 10 finalists

Paula Buendorf, special education teacher at Southwest Middle School, is out of the running for Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Buendorf, the 2014 Albert Lea Teacher of the Year, was one of 30 semifinalists for the award. Education Minnesota released the list of 10 finalists on Monday.

The finalists were selected by a panel of 23 leaders in education, business, government and nonprofits.

There were 123 Teacher of the Year candidates for the award this year, announced on Feb 3. Those 123 were narrowed to 30 on Feb. 24. Out of the 10 remaining teachers, the winner will be announced at a banquet on May 3.

The 10 remaining teachers are from St. Paul, Underwood, South Washington County, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, Elk River, Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Stillwater and Edina.

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program is in its 50th year. Education Minnesota organizes and underwrites the Teacher of the Year program. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year Program also receives support from the following organizations: The SMARTer Kids Foundation, the Radisson Blu Mall of America, the Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, United Educators Credit Union, McDonald’s Restaurants of Minnesota, TruStone Financial and Education Minnesota ESI.