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T TEACHINGEACHING

MINNESOTA’S K–12 EDUCATION CONNECTIONTODAYTODAY Spring 2025
MN
MN
™

Experience as Theater’s Teacher of the Year Candidate Field

Lighting Director Led BHS Narrowed to 31 Semifinalists

Senior to Pursue Electrical Engineering This year’s program
will name the 61st Min-
nesota Teacher of the
Year. The program cel-
ebrates the tradition of
excellence in teaching
in Minnesota. Eligible
candidates include pre-
kindergarten through
12th-grade, Early
Childhood Family Edu-
cation and Adult Basic Education teachers, • Intend to teach in Minnesota during the
from public or private schools. 2025-26 school year.
The field of possible candidates for this Semifinalists for 2025 Minnesota Teacher
year’s Minnesota Teacher of the Year honor of the Year are listed alphabetically by last
has been narrowed to 31. An independent name below, including the district and school:
selection panel of 21 community leaders
chose the semifinalists from an initial field • Stacy Bartlett, Stillwater Area Public
of 142 candidates from across the state. Schools, Stillwater Area High School
The panel will review the semifinal- • Garrett Bruce, Robbinsdale Area
ists’ portfolios again, along with semifinalist Public Schools, Robbinsdale Cooper
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 in acting, so he found a different way to be video submissions. The panel will select High School
Lucas Croatt prefers to stay out of the involved that better suited him. about 10 finalists from among the group. • Katelyn Bruce, Minneapolis Public
The current Minnesota Teacher of the Year,
spotlight. In fact, the senior found his niche “I wasn’t going to be on that stage, so I Tracy Byrd, will announce his successor at Schools, Lake Harriet Lower Campus
at Burnsville High School by putting the spot- went to the tech side and really enjoyed it, so I the Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet, • Jodi Carufel, Bloomington Public
light on other students - literally. stuck with it,” he said. scheduled for May 4 at the Saint Paul Riv- Schools, Olson Middle School
As lighting director at the school’s Mraz Lucas appreciates the freedom he’s erCentre.
Center for Performing Arts, Lucas does a little allowed in his role as lighting director. He Eligible nominees must meet these criteria: • Ryan Collins, Mahtomedi Public
bit of everything behind the scenes to make gets to be creative in how he lights each show, Schools, Mahtomedi Middle School
sure productions go off without a hitch. In which makes it that much more satisfying for • Teach in a public or nonpublic pre- • Ben Cuevas-Rengstorf, Minneapolis
addition to planning and setting up the light- him to see the final production come together. kindergarten–12th grade school, or Public Schools, Roosevelt High School
ing, he helps run the audio systems and builds “We do a shot and it’s kind of up to me in an Adult Basic Education or ECFE • Christoph Dundas, Austin Public
sets. He’s worked on 15 plays and musical what I want to do for it, how I want to go about program, working at least 50 percent of Schools, Austin High School
productions, the most recent being “Clue” in doing it,” he said. “When the show comes on, the time directly with students.
February, and dozens of other events over the the work you put in pays off because you get • Have a Minnesota teaching license. • Laura Eid, Eden Prairie Schools,
last four years. to see it.” • Hold a bachelor’s degree and a Minne- Central Middle School
Lucas started in theater as a freshman In the classroom, Lucas has been explor- sota teaching license. • Ted Erickson, Anoka-Hennepin School
because his older sister acted in plays through- ing his interest in engineering by taking • Have completed at least five full years of District, Blaine High School
out her time at BHS. He wasn’t interested teaching by the nomination deadline.
Continued on Page 22 Continued on Page 26

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