Bennington teacher announced as Nebraska's 2025 Teacher of the Year

As Lindsey Wilson taught her seventh grade social studies class in Bennington on Thursday, Nebraska Education Commissioner Brian Maher surprised her with the honor of being the 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Wilson has been a teacher for 17 years and is in her third year at Bennington Middle School. She teaches math, science and social studies. She was one of three finalists for the award. The other two were Megan Pitrat of Syracuse-Avoca-Dunbar Middle School and Tom Whisinnand of Neihardt Elementary in Millard.

Wilson hopes to show other teachers how to bring new ideas into their classroom.

“My core message is that education doesn't have to stick to the traditional mold that we, many of us, grew up in, that it can look different,” Wilson said. “Our kids are changing. Our society is changing. If we've got to break that mold a little bit, we can.”

Wilson said her students call her Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus because of her “crazy” activities. Lucy Hunt, a seventh grader at Bennington, said she loves Wilson’s classes.

“She's really nice, and she's creative, and she thinks outside the box,” Hunt said. “When she gets a crazy idea, she just does it for us.”

Seventh grader Abby Iverson agreed. She said the activities Wilson plans — like a selfie scavenger hunt for science class — make school enjoyable.

“I feel like I remember what we're learning about more because she makes learning fun,” Iverson said.

Wilson tries to find engaging and hands-on activities for her lessons. Her students are currently working together as geologists looking at data to track earthquakes and volcanoes in science class.

“Looking back at myself 17 years ago, my teaching was a lot different,” Wilson said. “I was more afraid to try new things for fear that it might fail in the classroom, but now I expect my students to try things without fear of failure, and we just go for it, so I need to be a model of that, too.”

The most important lesson Wilson said she hopes to pass on to her students and other teachers is to love what you do.

“If you're not having fun as a teacher, the kids aren't having fun,” Wilson said. “You have to love what you do, just like you do with any career. If you're in there learning with them, alongside them, then it makes it worth it.”

Wilson will start her role as 2025 Teacher of the Year on Jan. 1.