(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Education, this week, announced nine teachers, representing all education regions of the state, as the first-ever Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year. Each teacher represents outstanding achievements in K-12 instruction within Iowa’s nine education regions. Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow said “This year, the Department of Education was excited to establish a new Regional Teacher of the Year designation that celebrates excellence in teaching across all corners of our state. We recognize the expertise, commitment and care of each of Iowa’s inaugural 2025 Regional Teachers of the Year, and we thank them for choosing this honored profession, putting students at the center of all they do.”

In Southwest Iowa’s Green Hills Region, Sarah Stephens with the Creston Community School District was named Teacher of the Year.

Green Hills Regional Teacher of the Year: Sarah Stephens, Creston Community School District

Stephens, a special education teacher at Creston Elementary School, is a veteran educator with 14 years of experience working with first through fifth grade students. She earned her teaching degree at Northwest Missouri State and a Master’s degree in education from Morningside University. She has served as an instructional coach, lead team member, peer mentor and middle school basketball coach. Stephens also serves as a Paraeducator Certification Course instructor. She believes that infusing employability skills with community opportunities in the classroom engages students and sets them up for success.

Others selected across the State from nominations submitted by educators, students, families and fellow Iowans, include: Kevin Gartman; Susie Stark; Samantha Freeman; Blake Hammond; Alyssa Dalsing; Kaitlin Mahoney; Beth Oolman and Melanie Bloom. Each is an Iowa 2025 Regional Teachers of the Year. Those teachers will now serve as finalists for the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced later this year. (Read more HERE)

Established in 1958, the prestigious Teacher of the Year award recognizes an Iowa teacher who advances student learning through evidence-based instruction, empowers students with multiple pathways to postsecondary success, learns from and invests in fellow educators and serves students in partnership with families.

Last year, Ann Mincks, an English Language Learner educator from Des Moines Public Schools’ Herbert Hoover High School, was named as the 2024 Iowa Teacher of the Year. The Iowa Teacher of the Year serves as an ambassador for the Iowa Department of Education and a representative of and liaison for all Iowa educators.