• Region 1 Caitlyn Graf, Math, Milbank High School
• Region 2 George Hawkins, Social Studies, Jefferson High School, Sioux Falls
• Region 3 Valerie Nelson, Kindergarten, Chamberlain Elementary
• Region 4 Lindsey Bachman, 3rd Grade, Mobridge-Pollock Upper Elementary
• Region 5 Alyssa Walters, English Language Arts, Spearfish High School

• 2024 George Hawkins
• 2023 Alyssa Cassels
• 2022 Stephanie Ballard
• 2021 Amanda Hargreaves
• 2020 Amanda Harris
• 2019 Erica Boomsma
• 2018 Rachel Schaefer
• <2017 Beth Kaltsulas
• 2016 Sarah Lutz
• 2015 Allen Hogie
• 2014 LuAnn Lindskov
• 2013 Katie Anderson
• 2012 Pat Moller
• 2011 Susan Turnipseed
• 2010 Tom Mead
• 2009 Paul Kuhlman
• 008 Sharon Andrews
• 2007 Charlotte Mohling
• 2006 Barbara Dowling
• 2005 Jensi Kellogg-Andrus
• 2004 Roxie Ahlbrecht
• 2003 Linda McKay
• 2002 Jeffrey Lukens
• 2001 Marilyn Herz
• 2000 Bill Zubke
• 1999 Kristine Malloy
• 1998 Denise Bryan
• 1997 Judy Kroll
• 1996 Jacqueline Omland
• 1995 Rebecca Ekeland
• 994 Glenna Fouberg
• 1993 Julie Ashworth
• 1992 Lennis Larson
• 1991 Deborah Van Pelt Platt
• 1990 Carole Kasen
• 1989 Linda Hillestad
• 1988 Richard Meier
• 1987 Darell Pribyl
• 1986 Betty Hainy
• 1985 Dorothy Mae Dubs
• 1984 Jean Peterson
• 1983 Ferald Loomer
• 1982 Charlotte Hauge
• 1981 Josephine Hartman
• 1980 Jerry Opbroek
• 1979 George M. Sutton
• 1978 Merle J. Larson
• 1977 Doris E. Christianson
• 1976 Alma G. Reinecke
• 1975 Douglas R. Carpenter
• 1974 Florence Kribell
• 1973 Otha Marie Joens
• 1972 David W. Merrill
• 1971 Gladys B. Curran,
  National Teacher of the Year Finalist
• 1970 Eileen Gran
• 1969 Arline Autio
• 1959 Donald Rasmussen,
  National Teacher of the Year Finalist
• 1954 Lois Thompson

• SD Teacher of the Year Program Regions

The goal of the TOY program is to recognize and honor the tremendous contributions of outstanding classroom teachers. Note: a classroom teacher is a person who has a class of his/her own and spends at least three or more hours per day, five days a week, for six or more calendar months during a school year in a classroom teaching students. School counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers are NOT eligible.

A school district may choose to set up its own selection process for choosing a District Teacher of the Year, or use guidelines created by the Department of Education. The guidelines can be altered to fit a district s needs.

A District TOY candidate who wishes to be considered for Region and State Teacher of the Year must:

• be a fully certified teacher;
• be employed by a South Dakota accredited school district - pre-kindergarten through grade twelve;
• have at least 3 full years of teaching experience;
• be planning to continue in an active teaching status (supervisory and administrative responsibilities are secondary considerations) for at least 2 more years;

A District TOY candidate who wishes to be considered for Region and State Teacher of the Year should:

• Have a superior ability to inspire students of ALL backgrounds and abilities to learn;
• Be an exceptionally skilled and dedicated classroom teacher;
• Have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues;
• Play an active and useful role in the community as well as in the school; and
• Be poised, articulate, and have the energy to withstand the demanding schedule that would accompany selection as the South Dakota Teacher of the Year.

Each District Teacher of the Year becomes a nominee for his or her district's Regional Teacher of the Year Award. If the District TOY is selected as the Regional TOY, he or she becomes a nominee for the South Dakota TOY. If chosen as the South Dakota TOY, he/she then becomes a candidate for the National TOY. The National Teacher of the Year selection is not completed until the following Spring, so in order for a District TOY to be eligible for Region TOY and South Dakota TOY they must plan to be an active teacher for at least two more school years.