(Area) The Iowa Department of Education announced nine teachers, representing all education regions of the state, as the first-ever Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year. Each teacher represents outstanding achievements in K-12 instruction within Iowa’s nine education regions.
From nominations submitted by educators, students, families and fellow Iowans, Kevin Gartman, Susie Stark, Samantha Freeman, Sarah Stephens, Blake Hammond, Alyssa Dalsing, Kaitlin Mahoney, Beth Oolman and Melanie Bloom have been selected as Iowa’s 2025 Regional Teachers of the Year.
Each of these teachers will now serve as finalists for the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced later this year.
Here is southwest Iowa the Green Hills Regional Teacher of the Year is Sarah Stephens of Creston Community School District. Stephens, a special education teacher at Creston Elementary School, is a veteran educator with 14 years of experience working with first through fifth grade students. She earned her teaching degree at Northwest Missouri State and a Master’s degree in education from Morningside University. She has served as an instructional coach, lead team member, peer mentor and middle school basketball coach. Stephens also serves as a Paraeducator Certification Course instructor. She believes that infusing employability skills with community opportunities in the classroom engages students and sets them up for success.
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(Photo from the Iowa Department of Education Website)
