New Richmond HS agriscience teacher surprised with 2025 WI Teacher of the Year award

Matthew Baughman, The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.
·2 min read

NEW RICHMOND — Receiving an award on Monday for “Teacher of the Year” was the last thing New Richmond High School’s agriscience teacher was expecting.

But as a start to Teacher Appreciation Week, Rachel Sauvola was called to the stage as she was named the third of five 2025 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year.

“This is my 25th year of teaching, and what a true celebration it is,” she said, in an interview with Leader-Telegram.

Jill Underly, state superintendent, said selecting the Teachers of the Year for them is a pretty rigorous process. From their approximately 80 fellowship winners that also receive grants to their school, five of them are selected every year by teachers, community members, former Teachers of the Year and others.

“The way that she uplifts her students, is a role model and connects them to agriculture and different learning experiences is inspiring… She is a person who is very inclusive. She is very big on giving kids different experiences in different kinds of careers in agriculture,” said Underly.

“She has had such an influence on students of her own going into the field of teaching, which I think is really important to note. Future ag teachers — that is an industry that is extremely important to Wisconsin, and it starts in our schools.”

On top of that, Underly also said their school farm was another significant experience that Sauvola helped to bring to students.

Underly said they typically travel throughout the state and announce the recipients during the beginning of May.

These awards serve the purpose of bringing awareness to remarkable teachers that are in the state, she said.

“It reinforces that we need to support our educators, at a time when we released a report a couple of weeks ago that our teaching force is in dire straits,” said Underly. “We don’t have enough people to fill the jobs. We think about public education and how this really holds it all together… it educates future leaders, it educates future parents and it educates the future workforce.”

Continuing, she said that having these quality people in front of our kids is integral for the state, but public institutions are certainly struggling in retaining people and recruiting people. Underly said this award recognizes the everyday heroes that are working in the schools and serving the communities during that time.

Feeling “honored and humbled” while accepting the award, Sauvola said she plans to keep on actively engaging in her community and waking up every morning to continue to do the best she can do.

“I think that this honor for me also represents the ag teachers that work diligently in their own communities to do what I do,” said Sauvola. “This is really a celebration for everyone in my industry, and that is not just in Wisconsin.”