Lori Holm is Owatonna Teacher of the Year

The Owatonna Educators Awards and Recognition Banquet was held at the Monterey Ballroom on the evening of Wednesday, May 13. Washington Elementary's Lori Holm was named Teacher of the Year. Information below is from the evening's program.

The Owatonna Teacher of the Year candidates were:

• Kayla Davis: Third-grade teacher at McKinley Elementary
• Lori Holm: Special education teacher at Washington Elementary
• Tamara Gonzalez: Kindergarten teacher at McKinley Elementary
• Mark Langlois: Fifth-grade teacher at McKinley Elementary
• Bill McClintock: First-grade teacher at Wilson Elementary
• Josh Tolle: Teacher at Willow Creek

Teachers recognized for 25-30 years of service:

• Monica Konold: Third-grade teacher at Wilson Elementary, started teaching in Owatonna
• Denise Lage: Family and consumer science teacher at Owatonna High School, started teaching in Owatonna
• Lisa Schmitz: Speech clinician at Willow Creek
• Wendy Stephani: Taught at Owatonna Junior High and currently at Owatonna High School
• Lisa McKay: First taught at Owatonna High School, currently at Owatonna Junior High as a special education teacher
• Ann Christensen: Teaches at Owatonna High School
• Rose Ragatz: Owatonna High School
• Julie Baker Olson: Teaches at Wilson and Willow Creek
• Elizabeth Langer: Special education teacher at Wilson Elementary
• Susanne Schroeder: Currently a teacher at Wilson
• Jane Sorensen: Physical education and DAPE in the Owatonna district
• Theresa Wagoner: Willow Creek sixth-grade science teacher

The school district also honored the teachers retiring:

• Cheryl Miller: Special education, night school for those working on GED, began teaching at St. Mary's in Owatonna, then to Owatonna High School, currently at Wilson School
• Maureen Zishka: Started teaching in 1979, most recently at Owatonna High School
• Georgia Brenden: Taught English at Owatonna High School
• Bruce Dirks: Owatonna High School technology education instructor
• Greg Grossbach: Mathematics teacher in Owatonna and Medford