(L to R)State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, Teacher of the Year Bret Dockter, and Governor Doug Burgum. Photo: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

By Dave Thompson

BISMARCK, N.D. (Prairie Public Radio) – Bret Dockter has been named the 2021 North Dakota Teacher of the Year.

State school superintendent Kirsten Baesler made the announcement at the Capitol today.

Bret Dockter is a sixth grade teacher and coach at B. M. Hanson Elementary School in Harvey. He was chosen from among four finalists for the honor.

Dockter says when the call came that he was the winner, he couldn’t believe it. But he says teaching is a rewarding profession.

Dockter says the last 18 months has been challenging to him and to his colleagues. And he says he hopes to never go back to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when classrooms were empty and students were learning online.

Dockter says the pandemic did teach him to make every day count.

The other finalists for Teacher of the Year were Heather Ell, first grade teacher at John Hoeven Elementary in Minot; Shari Jerde, a teacher at Grand Forks Community High School; and Matthew Nielsen, a science teacher at Valley City High School.