Bedford, Pembroke, Manchester, And Keene Educators Named 2024 NH Teacher Finalists

CONCORD, NH — An eighth-grade science teacher, a sixth-grade math teacher, an elementary school teacher, and an interventionist teacher at a high school in the state’s largest city have all been named teacher of the year finalists for 2024.

The four teachers were vetted from 322 nominations this year, competing for a single slot to represent all teachers in the state. From the 322, 92 were chosen and then, four.

Ritu Budakoti, a science teacher at Keene Middle School, has been teaching for 11 years and said she wanted to “share the joy and spark of this noble profession with others.”

Sean Donahue, a sixth-grade mathematics teacher at McKelvie Intermediate School in Bedford, said teachers could be trusted “to deliver content every day in the same way we champion for the success of every student.” He has been teaching for 15 years.

A third-grade elementary teacher at Pembroke Hill School, Elizabeth Duclos, was also nominated. An educator for 16 years, she said, “With each new class, I work to create communities of learning where children are respected and loved.”

Gregory Parker is a grade 9 to 12 interventionist teacher at Manchester Memorial High School in Manchester. He has been teaching for eight years.

“Students are successful in my class when they start to find that spark of learning,” he said.

Christine Brennan, the deputy commissioner for the state who also serves on the committee, said officials were excited to recognize the educators’ talent, leadership, and commitment.

“These four finalists are champions in education,” she said.

Frank Edelblut, the state’s education commissioner, said New Hampshire was bucking national trends and had seen a record number of educator certification renewals during the past two years. This year's record number of nominations underscores “the many exceptional teachers working here in the Granite State,” he said, and showed the state continuing to “attract qualified individuals to the field.”

One of the four will be chosen as teacher of the year for 2024 in October.

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