Two Richfield Educators Nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year

Two Richfield educators, Morgan Steele and Lindsey Larson, have been nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year! Morgan is a French teacher at Richfield High School and has been working at RHS for eight years. Lindsey is a Special Education teacher at Richfield Middle School and has been with the district for 12 years. We spoke with each of them about their nomination and what it means to them to have been chosen.

“Honestly, I am so proud of this and feel extremely lucky to have a chance to represent educators across Minnesota,” shared Morgan. “I don't think I'm an exception for educators; I think the vast majority of teachers do things every single day to be nominated as teacher of the year. If I get a chance to elevate educators and shine a spotlight on the incredible things we do with our incredible students, I will be grateful to do that.”  

Morgan was nominated by a past student who graduated from RHS in 2024. “I feel so honored to be included in this list, and to see so many incredible teachers on it makes me so proud.”

Stacy Theien-Collins, the principal at Richfield High School, feels Morgan’s nomination is highly deserved. “All learners deserve what Morgan delivers every day,” said Principal Theien-Collins. “She is instrumental in student successes and, more importantly, sparking a love for learning.” 

Lindsey was first nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2022, but at that time, declined the nomination. 

“As an introvert, I prefer to stay out of the spotlight,” shared Lindsey. “But I felt it was time to take action and get out of my comfort zone, which is something I am frequently asking of my students. My hope is that this nomination doesn’t focus on me, but instead sheds a light on the good in each of my students.” 

“Though new to Richfield Middle School, Lindsey has already made a remarkable impact, and it’s clear why she was nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year,” said Richfield Middle School Principal, Erica Barlow. “Her dedication, patience and compassionate approach to supporting students with unique needs have fostered a welcoming and inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive.”

We are so proud of these two exceptional educators. Our students, alongside the staff and administrators at their buildings, have experienced firsthand the dedication and passion they put into their jobs each day. They are a tremendous asset to our team, and we are lucky to have them in our district. Congratulations!