BISMARCK — State School Superintendent Kristen Baesler on Thursday announced 46 North Dakota educators were named Teachers of the Year in their respective counties.

“It is a pleasure to honor these outstanding teachers, who have been recognized by their peers and the students and families they serve as being exemplars of their profession,” Baesler said. “All North Dakotans should be grateful for the work our educators do to help develop our state’s new generations of citizens.”

Minot and area teachers were among the winners including: Risha Allen of John Hoeven Elementary in Minot; Amy Campbell of Parshall Elementary School; Melanie Jones of Glenburn Public School; Antenniel Neumiller of Washburn Elementary School; Amber Thorenson of Bottineau Public School; Joan Birdsell of Drake-Anamoose High School; and Deanna Donnelly of Ray Public School.

One of the 46 will be chosen as North Dakota’s state Teacher of the Year in September. The county awards announced Thursday are part of North Dakota’s state Teacher of the Year recognition program. The incumbent state Teacher of the Year is Kendall Burgrud, a mathematics teacher at Wachter Middle School in Bismarck. His term ends Dec. 31.

County Teacher of the Year candidates were nominated in January and February. A total of 254 educators were nominated from 47 counties; 130 of those nominees from 44 counties applied for County Teacher of the Year consideration. These applications were reviewed and scored, and winners from the 44 counties were chosen earlier this month.

Because of ties in the scoring of applications, Benson and Mercer counties have two County Teachers of the Year. Nine counties had no applications: Adams, Billings, Divide, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Pierce, Sheridan, Sioux and Slope.

Nominations for County Teacher of the Year may come from anyone, including students, family members, teacher colleagues or administrators. Teachers may nominate themselves as well.