Tunseth Named ND Teacher of the Year

Today at the state Capitol in Bismarck, educators, policymakers and education stakeholders gathered in Memorial Hall to honor four of the best teachers in North Dakota. 

These four – Emily Dawes, a literary specialist at Lake Agassiz Elementary in Grand Forks; Hannah Sagvold, a business education teacher for Lisbon Public School; Frannie Tunseth, a math and reading teacher for grades 4-8 at Mayville-Portland-Clifford-Galesburg Public School; and Leah Wheeling, a sixth-grade teacher of Physical education and digital literacy at Simle Middle School in Bismarck – were the four finalists in contention for the 2026 ND Teacher of the Year award. A ceremony was held at 1:00 p.m. to announce this year’s winner, and the assembled audience didn’t have to wait long for the official announcement from Superintendent Kirsten Baesler.

“I don't want to keep you in suspense any longer,” Baesler said, “I don't have an envelope, so I'll just come right up and announce that the 2026 North Dakota Teacher of the Year is Frannie Tunseth of Mayville.” 

“It is my belief that teaching is not a job, it's a privilege,” Tunseth said in her acceptance speech. “At the heart of my work is a belief that all students can — and will — succeed when given the support the encouragement and the high expectations they deserve. For me, that commitment is rooted in serving students in our rural communities. In these places, schools are more than classrooms, they are gathering places where families connect, traditions are carried forward and opportunities are created for the next generation. 

“It is true that rural schools may face unique challenges, distance, resources and access, but they are also places of incredible strength, resilience and hope. When we invest in rural schools, we invest in the heartbeat of entire communities.”

For Gov. Kelly Armstrong, this year’s Teacher of the Year ceremony was his first since taking office, and he opened with a lighthearted observation about role reversal. "We also had lunch with all the finalists at the residence," Armstrong said. "Nick (Archuleta) had them all stand, and then Kirsten had Frannie stand up here. It’s a bit of a role reversal — teachers are usually the ones asking students to stand, and now they’re the ones on their feet."

Reflecting on this year’s legislative session — and the time spent debating property taxes — Armstrong shared a story from his grandfather. "My grandfather had three daughters who went to private school in Dickinson," he said. "When someone asked why they should pay property taxes if their kids didn’t attend public school, he said, 'Because I don’t want to live in a town full of dumb people.'"

Armstrong said the point still holds today. "We’re really good at overcomplicating things in government," he said. "But at the end of the day, none of what we do — public safety, tax policy, criminal justice — matters if the next generation isn’t prepared to step into those roles, whether that’s law enforcement, health care, business or beyond."

NDU President Nick Archuleta congratulated each of our four finalists for their accomplishments. “Today, we gathered four outstanding educators who have been named finalists for the North Dakota Teacher of the Year,” Archuleta said.  “Each one of them represents not just excellence in their own classroom, but also the absolute best of what it means to teach, to lead, and to inspire.”

Archuleta also reminded us that our state’s education system is not limited in outstanding talent and vision to this year’s finalists, but these four represent the abundance of passionate individuals, with innovative minds and caring hearts, teaching in classrooms all over the state. “(Our finalists) understand that as a society, we don't do anything more important than educate our future,” he said. “As we celebrate the distinction with this year’s finalists, let us also remember that they represent thousands of other teachers across North Dakota, who are working with equal passion and commitment. We cannot possibly honor them all individually, but through Emily, Hannah, Frannie and Leah, we can say thank you to every teacher in every classroom in the state.”

Tunseth closed her speech by making a similar point, that no one of us can ever accomplish nearly as much as we all can by working together. “Every day in the classroom, we have the opportunity to make a lasting difference,” Tunseth said. “I'm inspired by the work of my fellow educators to make that possible. To my students — past and present — you are my greatest teachers. To my family and friends, your unwavering support and example have made this possible. And to all of the educators in North Dakota, thank you for your passion, for your heart and for your dedication. This work is only the beginning. And, together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our North Dakota students, and in the future of education. Thank you all so much.”