Rajaa Ali Advances as Minnesota Teacher of the Year Semifinalist

Rochester Public Schools announced that one of its educators has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award.

Rajaa Ali, a multilingual learner (ML) teacher at Gage Elementary School, is among 30 semifinalists selected for the prestigious statewide honor.

Ali was chosen from an initial pool of 128 candidates. An independent selection panel made up of community leaders narrowed the field, evaluating nominees based on high professional standards, instructional excellence and a demonstrated commitment to student success.

Now in her seventh year of teaching with Rochester Public Schools, Ali is also a product of the district. She attended Longfellow Elementary School, Friedell Middle School and Mayo High School before returning to serve the same community that shaped her education.

“Being nominated is a great honor, and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” Ali said. “They wrote my name on a list with 29 other wonderful educators, but this nomination also belongs to all the educators who have taught me, worked with me, and continue to impact how I show up as an educator every day.”

Ali began her teaching career during the 2019–2020 school year, stepping into the profession just as the COVID-19 pandemic upended classrooms across the country. She said navigating the sudden shift to distance learning and rapid instructional changes during her first year helped her develop the adaptability and core skills essential to serving multilingual learners effectively.

Superintendent Dr. Kent Pekel said Ali represents the mission and values of the district.

“Rajaa embodies the very mission of Rochester Public Schools,” Pekel said. “As a student and graduate of our district who returned to serve our community, she models the knowledge, independence and resilience we strive to instill in every student. Her recognition as a semifinalist isn’t just a win for Gage Elementary; it’s a testament to the extraordinary path to success that our educators pave every day.”

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program is now in its 62nd year. The selection panel will reconvene in late March to choose approximately 10 finalists. The 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced at a formal ceremony in May.