A fourth-grade teacher at Lakeview Elementary School in the Albert Lea School District has advanced to be a top 10 finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Mark Nechanicky, Albert Lea’s 2010 Teacher of the Year, will interview with a selection panel on April 30, and the Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced at a banquet on May 1.

“I’m very surprised,” Nechanicky said. “I never expected to make it to the final 10.”

Nechanicky said he feels honored to be chosen as a finalist. He said he’s not nervous for the interviews yet because they’re still weeks away.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Nechanicky said.

Superintendent Mike Funk said Nechanicky connects well with children and he brings a different perspective to education from his time as an engineer.

“He’s able to bring a different perspective into the classroom and the students benefit from that,” Funk said. “He exemplifies the great teaching that occurs within the Albert Lea Area Schools system.”

The selection panel is made up of 23 leaders in the areas of business, government and nonprofits. They selected the top 10 finalists from a group of 30 semifinalists. There were 108 original candidates for Teacher of the Year this year.

Nechanicky filled out a portfolio of information about himself to be one of the first 108 candidates, and was chosen as a semifinalist in February.

Nechanicky earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Gustavus Adolphus College and master’s degrees in science and engineering and elementary education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He also has completed most of the courses to receive an English Language Learners endorsement. He has taught in Albert Lea for six years.

The only other time an Albert Lea teacher was chosen as Minnesota Teacher of the Year was in 1987 when Paul Goodnature won the award.

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program is organized by Education Minnesota, the largest union of teachers in Minnesota. Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers from public or private schools can be candidates.