Written by Barrett Morgan
The Class of ‘79 annually gives out a Teacher of the Year Award. Each year, fellow teachers, parents, students, and community members nominate who they believe had an outstanding year or is having an amazing career. The teachers nominated may have developed new programs, are great at connecting and motivating students, or just go above and beyond their job title.
Recent recipients were Cindy Schmidt, 2nd grade teacher, in 2025; Jennifer Christensen, 3rd grade teacher, in 2024; Todd Herbst-Ulmer, elementary and now high school choir, in 2023, and Mindi Spear and Lisa Niles, English teachers and Student Senate advisors, in 2022.
The winner of the award will be chosen from the nominations, which were submitted by April 10th. The Algona Community Foundation helps manage this award. The winner will be announced on May 20th and receives an engraved bell as well as $400.