Westwood teacher to return to Alaska as Iditarod finalist

Written by Victor Reed

Kari Lawson, a fourth grade teacher at Westwood Middle School was recently named a top three finalist in the nation in the Iditarod on the Trail program.

After an extensive application process, she was chosen to travel to Alaska this spring to see the beginning of the 2025 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. 

While Lawson is in Alaska, she and the other finalists will present at a teachers’ conference and work behind the scenes recording stats while the race starts. During the first night of the race she will work from midnight to  6 a.m. to post statistics for fans following online.

If Lawson gets chosen as the Teacher on the Trail, she will be invited to attend the 2026 Junior Iditarod race and be a predominant part of the race. Due to dog sledding not being a conventional sport fans connect to the race through online stats.

Lawson’s Westwood students are thrilled to learn about such a foreign topic as dog sledding. She believes that it is a great way to get students' attention during the quiet winter-early springtime.