.jpg)
With a remarkable 1,011 years of combined teaching, the 2026 State Teachers of the Year cohort brings experience in a range of subjects, from agriculture to business and marketing, math and Advanced Placement English.
Teaching across 14 subjects, the cohort comprises 23 teachers in rural schools, 21 in suburban schools and 12 in urban schools.
The work of these educators also extends beyond the classroom walls. Their students have raised funds for community projects, conducted schoolwide service projects honoring veterans and military-connected families and so much more. The 56 educators in the 2026 cohort from states and U.S. territories will take part in a one-of-a-kind year of professional learning facilitated by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
The National Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, composed of individuals representing national education organizations, will select finalists based on the teachers’ applications. The finalists will be announced in January 2026 and later interview with the Selection Committee in Washington, D.C. CCSSO, which runs the National Teacher of the Year Program, will announce the 2026 National Teacher of the Year this spring.
