Cooper’s Garrett Bruce a semifinalist for 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

When Garrett Bruce learned he was in the running to be named Minnesota’s top teacher for 2025, he was surprised and humbled. “It feels a bit surreal that I was chosen to be a semifinalist,” he said.

Bruce teaches Algebra and Algebra 2 at Cooper High School (CHS). He also serves as the boys’ and girls’ head golf coach at the school. Out of his six-year teaching career, Bruce has spent five years at CHS. 

“I am very fortunate to have made it as far as I have and no matter what happens from here, I am proud to represent Robbinsdale Area Schools and Cooper for this award,” he said. 

Bruce said he’s thankful for the recognition of being nominated in the first place. “The support from family, friends, current and former students, staff, and teachers in other districts is hard to put into words, but I am grateful for it all.

“I am also thankful for the nearly 600 students whom I have had the honor of teaching at Cooper in my five years. They are the reason why I am here and able to do what I do best: teaching mathematics at a high level and giving ALL of my students the chance to be successful and supported.”

In February, Education Minnesota announced that Bruce, as well as Meadow Lake Elementary art teacher Emma Withers, were among the candidates for the teacher of the year award. 

Nominees include teachers in pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education, from public and private schools. Education Minnesota is the state’s 84,000-member teacher union.

Moving forward, a panel will review all semifinalist portfolios and video submissions, and then select approximately 10 finalists. On May 4, this year’s state Teacher of the Year will be announced during a ceremony at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Read more about the award and see the full list of semifinalists at the Education Minnesota website.