Tentis named Minnesota Teacher of the Year candidate

Colleen Tentis, a Kasson-Mantorvlle kindergarten teacher, is in the running for Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
The list of finalists for the honor was announced recently by Education Minnesota.
Tentis is currently in her 19th year with the Kasson-Mantorville Schools.
“Being chosen for Teacher of the Year for KMEM has been a very humbling event,” she said. “It is an honor to represent our school and community. Teachers don’t do this alone; teaching is a team effort. And, I’m surrounded by the best of the best.”
Tentis said after being named K-M’s Teacher of the Year that being a teacher was not a goal growing up. After graduating from Wabasha-Kellogg High School in 1986, she earned an associate degree in secretarial studies from what is now Rochester Community and Technical College and later worked for Verizon before staying home to raise her children, Austin and Maddie, who are both K-M graduates.
She volunteered at their school, she said, and a principal encouraged her to pursue teaching. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University, a master’s from Winona State University and a reading specialist license from St. Mary’s University in Winona.
After being selected as the K-M Teacher of the Year, her name was entered into the competition for Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
Last month, Education Minnesota announced that 128 teachers have been chosen as candidates for 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. In addition to Tentis, five teachers from southeast Minnesota school districts have been nominated including Laura Jertson, Austin; Lisa Thorson, Owatonna; Rajaa Ali, Rochester; Bridget Hinzmann, Rochester and Brittney Steine, Winona.
Eligible candidates for the award include pre-k through 12th grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers, from public or private schools.
An independent review panel will now work to narrow the field down to semifinalists and then a group of finalists in March. The 62nd Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be honored at a banquet on May 3 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.