Education Minnesota has announced its 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year candidates and among the list was St. Francis Middle School (SFMS) teacher Ted Gehring.
"I am fortunate to teach in a district that prioritizes professional development and allows teachers the ability to learn from veteran staff that are masters of their craft,” Gehring said.
Gehring is one of 142 candidates who have accepted their nominations and completed the required materials to become eligible for the honor. He currently teaches sixth graders in Minnesota Studies. Gehring has been working in the district for 18 years - 13 at the middle school and five at St. Francis High School - and is very involved in leadership positions at the building, district and state level.
“My students' classroom is a reflection of working and learning from talented staff at both our high school and middle school over the past 18 years,” Gehring said. “I strive to prepare our kids to leave our classroom with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to tackle the challenges of everyday and civic life.”
At SFMS Gehring serves as a peer instructional coach and site chair. Last month he was named 2025 Minnesota Council for the Social Studies (MCSS) Middle School Social Studies Teacher of the Year and will accept the honor Feb. 22 in St. Cloud, Minn.
“My time in the classroom has taught me that teachers must connect with their students as individuals, design each lesson around student interests, and allow students the ability to discuss and practice new learnings in an atmosphere of love and trust."
About the program: This year’s program will name the 61st Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The 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.
Selection process: An independent selection 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. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet is set for May 4 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.