2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Michael Houston Receives National Recognition

The NEA Foundation announced that 48 public school educators will be honored with the esteemed 2025 Travelers Awards for Teaching Excellence, including Harding High School math teacher Michael Houston. Houston was the 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

The awardees, who come from every region of the country and serve urban, rural and suburban communities, have demonstrated excellence in the classroom, leadership in the teaching profession, engagement with families and communities, and dedication to equity and diversity.

Since 2001, The NEA Foundation has honored hundreds of exceptional educators throughout the country with the Awards for Teaching Excellence. The 2025 educator awardees will be celebrated at the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala on Feb. 14, 2025, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

Five of the top awardees will receive the distinction of being named Horace Mann Awardees from among which, one will be chosen for the highest honor, the NEA Member Benefits Award. The five finalists will each receive $10,000 and be featured in a short documentary highlighting their teaching practice. The educator selected for the top honor will be revealed at the Salute to Excellence in Education and receive $25,000.