Maple Grove Middle School’s Michael Herdan named semifinalist for 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

Michael Herdan, an eighth grade social studies teacher at Maple Grove Middle School (MGMS), was recently named one of 30 semifinalists for Minnesota Teacher of the Year 2026, a list narrowed from an original 128 candidates for this year’s award. 

Herdan has been with the district since 2008, when he completed his student teaching at MGMS. 

 “I’ve had some really good teachers and professors in my life, and they made it fun and made it matter,” Herdan explained of his decision to become an educator. “I think that drew me to teaching.”

After student teaching, Herdan spent two years substitute teaching around the district before a social studies position opened up at MGMS. He described his time as a substitute teacher as a powerful and valuable experience to learn more about his teaching style and preferences for his own classroom. Herdan applied for the MGMS job along with 400 other applicants in 2010, was selected for the position and has been at the school ever since. In addition to teaching, he has also been coaching track and field at Maple Grove Senior High School since 2009, where he works with sprinters.

“I’ve been lucky to have so many great teachers with me and to be part of the MGMS staff,” Herdan said. “None of this happens without them. I see amazing things happening in classrooms all day long and am one of many working hard to create great experiences for our students.”

"Mike was one of the first people who I met when I joined the Mustang community,” said MGMS principal Xavier Reed. “It was clear immediately that he is an outstanding teacher who is grounded in doing what's best for students. Mike is personable, insightful, and many of our students' favorite teacher. Mr. Herdan absolutely deserves to be honored as Minnesota Teacher of the Year."”

Herdan said much has changed both in the world and in the classroom since he began his teaching journey, including the topics his global studies classes discuss and the way he and his students take in information about the world. While new technology can change how instruction is delivered, he said at the end of the day, good teaching is still good teaching, and good lesson design is as important as ever. 

“Lessons that involve engaging and collaborating with each other is how we really learn and apply knowledge,” he said. “These fundamentals haven’t changed over the past 15 years.”

Of all the aspects of his job, Herdan said seeing kids be happy and succeed in life long-term is the most rewarding part of his career. 

“I don’t know what my students are going to do with their lives, but I want to prepare them the best we can for whatever that is,” he said. “If they have a broader perspective of the world from a global studies perspective, that’s only going to benefit them long-term.”

When he’s not teaching and coaching, Herdan enjoys adventuring and new experiences with his wife and daughter.