Community News 6 March 2025

Medford’s Larson named Teacher of Year semifinalist

Steele County Times - Staff Photo - Create Article
By
Kay Fate, Staff Writer

Tim Larson, the agricultural education teacher at Medford High School, has been chosen as one of 31 semifinalists for 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

A teacher for more than 40 years, Larson has taught at Medford since 2000. He teaches a variety of ag education/technology courses and is co-advisor for the Medford FFA chapter, as well as head of the school’s trap shooting team.

Larson was selected last week, along with 30 other educators from an initial field of 142 candidates from across the state.

An independent selection panel will review the semifinalists’ portfolios, along with semifinalist video submissions, in mid-March, then select about 10 finalists.

The current Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Tracy Byrd, will announce his successor at the Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet, scheduled for May 4 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

The event is underwritten by Education Minnesota, the statewide educators’ union.

A more complete story about Larson’s career and qualifications will appear in a future edition of the Steele County Times.

Semifinalists are listed here alphabetically by last name, including the district and school: 

  • Stacy Bartlett, Stillwater Area Public Schools, Stillwater Area High School 
  • Garrett Bruce, Robbinsdale Area Public Schools, Robbinsdale Cooper High School 
  • Katelyn Bruce, Minneapolis Public Schools, Lake Harriet Lower Campus 
  • Jodi Carufel, Bloomington Public Schools, Olson Middle School 
  • Ryan Collins, Mahtomedi Public Schools, Mahtomedi Middle School 
  • Ben Cuevas-Rengstorf, Minneapolis Public Schools, Roosevelt High School 
  • Christoph Dundas, Austin Public Schools, Austin High School 
  • Laura Eid, Eden Prairie Schools, Central Middle School 
  • Ted Erickson, Anoka-Hennepin School District, Blaine High School 
  • Megan Frantzen, South St. Paul Public Schools, Kaposia Education Center 
  • Ted Gehring, St. Francis Area Schools, St. Francis Middle School 
  • Jonathan Gilmer, Lakeville Public School District, Lakeville South High School 
  • Megan Hill, Minnetonka Public Schools, Groveland Elementary 
  • John Horton, Saint Paul Public Schools, J.J. Hill Montessori 
  • Amanda Jagdeo, Saint Paul Public Schools, Hamline Elementary School 
  • Travis Koupal, Minneapolis Public Schools, Justice Page Middle School 
  • Zoe Kourajian, Mounds View Public Schools, Edgewood Middle School 
  • Tim Larson, Medford Public Schools, Medford High School 
  • Criselda Martinez, Rochester Public Schools, Riverside Elementary 
  • Katherine Norrie, Northfield Public Schools, Northfield High School 
  • Michael Okwabi, Eden Prairie Schools, Eden Prairie High School 
  • Soren Olesen, Roseau Community School District, Roseau High School 
  • Sean Padden, Roseville Area Schools, Roseville Area Middle School 
  • Araceli Pastrana, Eden Prairie Schools, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion 
  • Michelle Rada, Eden Prairie Schools, Eden Prairie High School 
  • Marcela Roos, Eden Prairie Schools, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion 
  • Morgan Steele, Richfield Public Schools, Richfield High School 
  • Andrew Sundberg, Grygla Public School 
  • Averi M. Turner, Roseville Area Schools, Emmet D. Williams Elementary 
  • Kong Vang, Saint Paul Public Schools, Washington Technology Magnet School 
  • Linda Wallenberg, Eden Prairie Schools, Eden Prairie High School 

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