Tarah Fedenia, a speech and language pathologist at Poplar Creek Elementary, is one of five distinguished educators from across the state that have been named the 2022 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The selected group received the award for their tireless dedication toward students and the profession.

“From instilling a lifelong love of learning to inspiring our next generation, teachers play a critical role in the lives of students,” State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor said. “The five educators recognized with this honor are truly committed to their students and have gone to great lengths to support them as learners. I congratulate this group of outstanding educators on being named the 2022 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year.”

Stanford Taylor notified the educators of their selection as Teachers of the Year in separate virtual meetings last week. A recorded video of the selections can be found HERE.

Tarah Fedenia has a decade of experience in education. In addition to her work as a bilingual (Spanish) SLP, she was previously a staff member at the Friendship House in Milwaukee, a transitional women and children’s shelter, and was an instructor for children living at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission’s Joy House. Her educational philosophy, as noted in her application, is to “provide support to those who need it the most.” She is the first-ever SDNB teacher of the year, according to the Wisconsin DPI.

“Tarah is an incredible asset to the students and families at Poplar Creek and in the School District of New Berlin,” SDNB Superintendent Joe Garza said. “But not only has she served our students well, she has also
shared her skills and talents to benefit the greater community, and we could not be prouder of her and her recognition. She is a great representative for all of the hard-working, dedicated teachers throughout our school district.”

Fedenia is joined by Kabby Hong, an English Teacher at Verona Area High School; Anna Miller, a speech and language pathologist at Harmony Elementary in Milton; Eric Mumm, a technology and engineering teacher at Lancaster High School; and Patricia Zemke, a sixth-grade teacher at John Muir Middle School and Horace Mann Middle School in Wausau. Miller’s husband, coincidentally, is Patrick Miller, the SDNB’s Chief Financial and Operations Officer.

The 2022 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year are among the 101 educators recognized earlier this year by the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation’s Teacher Fellowship Program, which honors and supports teaching
excellence and innovation across Wisconsin. The honorees were selected by a diverse committee to represent voices, contexts, and perspectives as educational leaders throughout Wisconsin. The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation will provide a $3,000 personal award to each of those selected.

“We are incredibly excited for Tarah and for Poplar Creek,” Poplar Creek principal Matt Stempniewski said. “It is always an honor for our school when our teachers earn the prestigious Herb Kohl Fellowship awards. To have Tarah take that a step further and earn teacher of the year recognition is something our entire school community should be tremendously proud of.”

In the fall, the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee will interview each of those selected to be the 2022 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year. Through a collaborative process, one of the five educators will be chosen to represent Wisconsin in the Council of Chief State School Officers’ National Teacher of the Year Program.

For more information on the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Program, visit the DPI’s website.