VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A celebration of the naming of Matthew Nielson, an 11th and 12th grade science
teacher at Valley City Jr./Sr. High School, as one of four finalists for 2022 North Dakota Teacher of the Year will be held Monday, September 13th at 8:30am.

N.D. State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, Valley City school leaders, and students
will be present at a ceremony to honor Mr. Nielson’s achievement at the Valley City Jr./Sr. High School.

Nielson is the first of two Teacher of the Year finalist celebrations that are being held on Monday, Sept. 13. The second, for Shari Jerde, is being held at 2 p.m. at Grand Forks Community High School in Grand Forks.

The other two Teacher of the Year finalists are Heather Ell, a first-grade teacher at John Hoeven Elementary School in Minot, and Bret Dockter, a sixth-grade teacher at B.M. Hanson Elementary School in Harvey. Celebrations were held for these two outstanding educators at their respective schools on Sept. 1.

The winner of the 2022 North Dakota Teacher of the Year Award will be announced by Superintendent Baesler and Gov. Doug Burgum at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 27, in the state Capitol’s Memorial Hall.