Proctor Journal

A Proctor High School educator has been named a finalist for 2008 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Gordon Westendorf, Instrumental Music teacher, along with nine other finalists were selected by a panel of 24 leaders in the areas of business, government and non-profits selected the finalists from a group of 28 semifinalists.

There were 115 Teacher of the Year candidates for this program year.

“That is wonderful news,” proclaimed Superintendent Diane Rauschenfels. “He has dedicated his heart and soul to the district. There are many students lives he has touched from kindergarteners to graduates.”

“This honor also says something about his own creative musical abilities,” Rauschenfels added. “He is phenomenally gifted.”

In addition to being a music instructor he is the National Honors Society Advisor, he helps with the Sno Ball and Prom. “All those duties takes extra time to help the students,” Rauschenfels said.

Westendorf also works with the staff by being the head of the Recertification Committee and sets up an intense spring regional workshop for area teachers.

The selection panel meets again May 3 to conduct individual interviews with the 10 finalists and to cast votes for the 2008 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

The 2007 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Michael Smart of Intermediate School District 287, will announce this year’s honoree at a banquet at The Northland Inn and Conference Center in Brooklyn Park on Sunday, May 4.

The other 2008 Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists are:

District Name Subject School

Hastings Joe Beattie Biology Hastings High School

Hopkins Carleen Gulstad Language Arts Hopkins North Jr. High School

Inver Grove Rose Regan Elementary Pine Bend Elementary School

Minneapolis Diane Weiher Science Lake Harriet Community School

Northfield John Bade Visual Art Northfield Middle School

Owatonna Julie Buryska Elementary Wilson Elementary School

Rochester Steve Brehmer Physics Mayo High School

Rosemount Lynne Meyer Elementary Apple Valley

Stillwater Derek Olson Elementary Afton-Lakeland Elementary