State superintendent announces 2025 ND County Teachers of the Year

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler has recognized 46 educators in North Dakota as Teachers of the Year in their respective counties. A state-wide winner will be chosen in September.

Superintendent Baesler noted, “It is a pleasure to honor these outstanding teachers, who have been recognized by their peers and the students and families they serve as being exemplars of their profession.” She emphasized the importance of education in the development of future generations. Baesler has notably expanded the Teacher of the Year program aiming for nominations from every North Dakota county.

The 2025 county winners include: Sarah Lerud from Valley City Jr. Sr. High School in Barnes; Leo Jem Frondarina of Warwick Public Schools, and Elise Kallenbach from Maddock Public School in Benson; with the list continuing with one educator from each listed county. There were ties in the scoring of applications in some counties, such as Benson and Mercer, leading to multiple winners. Nine counties did not have any applications.

Nominations began in January with 254 educators from 47 counties nominated, eventually resulting in 130 applications from 44 counties. These were scrutinized and scored earlier in the month to decide the county winners. The current state Teacher of the Year is Kendall Burgrud, a mathematics educator at Wachter Middle School in Bismarck, whose term concludes at the end of this year.