 The field of possible candidates for this year's Minnesota teacher of the year honor has been narrowed to 40, and it includes two teachers from the Lakeland viewing area. Stephen Booth, a fourth grade teacher from the La Porte School District, and Mandy Galant, a kindergarten teacher for Wadena Deer Creek Public Schools, both made the cut. A selection panel of 23 community leaders chose the semifinalists from an initial field of 168 candidates from across the state. The panel will review the semifinalist portfolios again, and then review semifinalist video submissions in late March, and will select about 10 finalists from among the group. The 2019 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced at a banquet May 5th in St. Paul. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland news, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.