South Dakota’s Regional Teachers of the Year announced

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and the South Dakota Department of Education has announced its annual list of South Dakota’s Regional Teachers of the Year.

Here’s who’s nominated for the honor this year:
• Region #1: Alyssa Cassels, 5-12 band instructor, Deuel School District
• Region #2: Deb Jensen, kindergarten, Viborg-Hurley School District
• Region #3: Loretta Knodel, third grade, Avon School District
• Region #4: Jennifer Weishaar, first grade, Aberdeen School District
• Region #5: Jennifer Macziewski, K-1 Primary, Rapid City Area Schools

A statewide panel of educators will select one of these regional finalists to represent the state as the 2023 South Dakota Teacher of the Year, which will be announced this fall.
That individual will be South Dakota’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year Award. The 2023 National Teacher of the Year will be announced during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in spring 2023.