AUSTIN, Minn.-Laura Jertson, a special education teacher at Sumner Elementary was surprised in her classroom by the school's principal, her coworkers and family, when they came to award her with the 2026 Teacher of the Year Award.

Heather Ruzek, a fellow special education teacher and chair of the committee, says Jertson was chosen for her dedication to education inside the classroom and outside of it as a Special Olympics coach.

She says another big factor was the empathy Jertson has for her students.

"Laura is such a deserving educator for this award, she gives her all for her students and gives them exactly what they need," Ruzek said.

Jertson says she has been teaching since 1999 as a parent educator and a kindergarten before making the jump to special education in Austin in 2009.

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