WAPS Teacher One of 75 Nominees for Teacher of the Year

Photo: WAPS

(KWNO)-A Winona Are Public Schools teacher has been named a candidate for Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year.  

Instructional Coach Shannon Helgason is one of 75 statewide nominees. Helgason taught social studies for 16 years before serving as an instructional coach at the high school and the Winona Area Learning Center.  

“She definitely goes above and beyond in her service to the district,” read Helgeson’s nomination. “To her own detriment, I’m certain, she answers questions late into the evening and delves deep when researching or providing resources. 

Helgeson said that public schools are “bastions of hope” and that she is proud to be a teacher in WAPS.  

An independent panel of leaders in the fields of education, business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropy will read candidates’ portfolios over the next few weeks and narrow the list to a group of semifinalists. In March, the panel will convene again and review additional materials from the semifinalists to choose a group of finalists. Because of safety precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheduled Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet, set for May 2 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, may be postponed.