CCSSO NTOY

Introducing

The 2026 State Teachers of the Year

Congratulations to the 2026 teachers for their creative, tenacious passion for students and teaching!

Meet the Teachers

2025

National Teacher of the Year

Ashlie Crosson, an English teacher from Pennsylvania, named 2025 National Teacher of the Year.

Meet Ashlie

2025

State Teachers of the Year

Each year, states, territories, and the Department of Defense select one teacher to serve as their STOY.

Meet the Teachers

Photo: CFPF

2026 State Teachers of the Year

Each year, states, territories and the Department of Defense select one teacher to serve as their State Teacher of the Year.

Bluff Park Elementary

Alaska

2026

Peter Daley

Hutchison High School

American Samoa

2026

Elisaia Sualua Ma'ilo

Copper View Elementary School

Arkansas

2026

Stephanie Williams

Mountain View Elementary

California

2026

April Raguindin

Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary

Colorado

2026

Stephen Paulson

Greeley Central High School

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Rogers Park Middle School

Department of Defense Education Activity

Christopher O. J. Alberts

Union County High School

Georgia

2026

Rachel Kinsaul

Morgan County High School

Guam

2026

Acie Jo Sablan Cruz

Simon Sanchez High School

Central Elementary School

Iowa

2026

Stephanie Pritts

Sheldon Community Schools

Kansas

2026

Rachel Marlow

Central Elementary School

Kentucky

2026

Michelle Gross

Spencer County Middle School

Louisiana

2026

Regena Hartley Beard

Copper Mill Elementary

Maine

2026

Julia W. Edwards

Poland Regional High School / Bruce M. Whittier Middle

Maryland

2026

ALonna Soward-Puryear

Monocacy Elementary School

Eden Prairie High School

Tyrone Thompson Elementary School

New Hampshire

2026

Megan Philbrook

Andover Elementary/Middle School

New Jersey

2026

Gillian Ober

Freehold Intermediate School

New Mexico

2026

Nancy Louise Orta

East Picacho Elementary School

New York

2026

Prince Johnson

Food and Finance High School

North Carolina

2026

Rachel Candaso

Wellcome Middle School

North Dakota

2026

Frannie Tunseth

May-Port CG Public School

Ohio

2026

Chris Monsour

Columbian High School

Community Transition Program

Pennsylvania

2026

Leon Smith

Haverford High School

Rhode Island

2026

Sarah Dully

Narragansett High School

South Carolina

2026

Corey Bedenbaugh

Batesburg-Leesville Middle School

South Dakota

2026

Becky Haenfler

Avon Public Schools District

Tennessee

2026

Brandi De La Cruz

Collierville High School

Texas

2026

Vickie Wright

Margret S. McWhirter Elementary School

U.S. Virgin Islands

2026

Cherise C. Davis

Juanita Gardine PreK-8

Utah

2026

Joanna Andres

Park City High School

Vermont

2026

Linda Alvarez

Windham Regional Career Center

Virginia

2026

Matt Neale

Hidden Valley High School

Wheeling Middle School

Wisconsin

2026

Joel Coyne

Sun Prairie East High School

Wyoming

2026

Michelle Roundy

Jackson Hole High School

About NTOY Program

Celebrating passion for the profession.

The prestigious National Teacher of the Year program elevates selected educators from across U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia and Department of Defense.

About NTOY Program

Recognition and Professional Learning

Each year, CCSSO provides a cohort of State Teachers of the Year with a yearlong, one-of-a-kind professional learning and development experience.

Photo: CFPF

Photo: Google for Education

The 2026 State Teachers of the Year

National Teacher of the Year

State Teachers of the Year

2026 State Teachers of the Year

Each year, states, territories and the Department of Defense select one teacher to serve as their State Teacher of the Year.

About NTOY Program

Celebrating passion for the profession.

Recognition and Professional Learning

Each year, CCSSO provides a cohort of State Teachers of the Year with a yearlong, one-of-a-kind professional learning and development experience.

Partners, sponsors and supporters of the NTOY Program meaningfully engage with each cohort of State Teachers of the Year.

Get to know your State Teacher of the Year.