Risovi named Foster Co. Teacher of Year

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Tuesday applauded 47 North Dakota educators who have been named as 2022 County Teachers of the Year, praising them as examples of professional excellence in education.

"Our teachers have dealt with unprecedented challenges in recent years - brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic - and they responded by showing their imagination, their adaptability, their empathy, and their passion for serving their students," Baesler said. "Our County Teachers of the Year are sterling examples of these qualities."

Among the nominees and Foster County winner is Laura Risovi, instructor at Carrington Public Schools.

The selections demonstrate continued growth in North Dakota's Teacher of the Year program, which Baesler has worked to expand during her tenure as state superintendent. The program honored 40 County Teachers of the Year for 2021, and 20 the year before.

Baesler's goal is to have County Teacher of the Year honorees from all 53 North Dakota counties. Six counties did not have nominees for 2022.

The county awards are part of North Dakota's state Teacher of the Year recognition program. County award recipients are eligible to apply for state Teacher of the Year honors. The winner of the state Teacher of the Year award will be named in September.

County Teachers of the Year were nominated for the awards. Anyone who believes a North Dakota teacher is deserving of recognition may nominate her or him, including students, family members, teacher colleagues, or administrators.