2021 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year Revealed

In a surprise online meeting, State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor notified five Wisconsin educators that they are the 2021 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year. Traditionally, the state superintendent travels to each school for a surprise visit, announcing the individual teachers of the year and celebrating with students, staff, and administrators, but due to COVID-19 Stanford Taylor virtually made the surprise announcement.

See the moment state superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor revealed who the teachers of the year are in the brief video.

The 2021 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year are:

• Koren Jackson: special education teacher, Milwaukee Transition High School, Milwaukee Public Schools

• Trisha Kilpin: school social worker, Greendale School District

• Brooke Kintzle (nee Lederman): cross-categorical special education teacher, Brodhead Middle School, Brodhead School District

• Derrick Meyer: agriscience and driver’s education teacher, Amery High School, School District of Amery

• Susan Richardson: third-grade teacher, Milwaukee German Immersion School, Milwaukee Public Schools

Each teacher of the year receives $3,000 from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation.

Through an interview process, one of the five teachers will be selected to represent Wisconsin in the Council of Chief State School Officers National Teacher of the Year program. The Wisconsin representative for the National Teacher of the Year program will be selected this week.

For more information about the selection process for the Teacher of the Year Program, visit the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation web page on the DPI website.