K12News Tracker
2027 State Teacher of the Year Winners & Finalists
K12News is tracking the educators recognised through State Teacher of the Year programmes across the United States. Explore the 2027 winners, finalists, schools and districts, with links to official state sources.
Last updated: September 22, 2026
Every year, states across the country recognise outstanding educators through their State Teacher of the Year programmes. The announcements are made independently by individual states and at different points in the year, which makes the national picture hard to see.
K12News has brought those announcements together in one place. This tracker follows the winners, finalists and other final-stage educators recognised by state programmes, with links back to the original official sources, and is updated as more states announce.
30
States reporting
20
Winners announced
302
Educators recognised
30
States still in progress
Latest Teacher of the Year Announcements
Missouri
DESE Names 16 Semifinalists for 2027 Missouri Teacher of the YearSep 22, 2026
Missouri
Missouri Announces 2027 Teacher of the Year FinalistsSep 22, 2026
Missouri
35 Missouri Educators Selected as Regional Teachers of the YearSep 22, 2026
Hawaii
Kaimukī High School’s Chu Hong named 2027 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the YearSep 21, 2026
Kansas
Goddard English language arts educator named 2027 Kansas Teacher of the YearSep 20, 2026
2027 Teacher of the Year Tracker by State
Alabama
Winner announced
Elizabeth Eubanks Von Hofe
Spanish Fort Elementary
Baldwin County
Elizabeth Eubanks Von Hofe
Spanish Fort Elementary
Baldwin County
6 educators in final cohort
Arizona
Winner announced
Lisa Scott
Esmond Station K-8
Vail School District
Lisa Scott
Esmond Station K-8
Vail School District
8 educators in final cohort
Florida
Winner announced
Kyndall Brown
Harmony Middle School
Osceola County
Kyndall Brown
Harmony Middle School
Osceola County
8 educators in final cohort
Georgia
Winner announced
Charm Mapp
Clifton Ridge Middle School
Jones County
Charm Mapp
Clifton Ridge Middle School
Jones County
18 educators in final cohort
Indiana
Winner announced
Jason Witzigreuter
Homestead High School
Southwest Allen County Schools
Kansas
Winner announced
Brandy Lane
Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School
Goddard USD 265
Brandy Lane
Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School
Goddard USD 265
14 educators in final cohort
Kentucky
Winner announced
Katherine Sigmon Berner
Baker Intermediate
Clark County
Katherine Sigmon Berner
Baker Intermediate
Clark County
Kellie Moses
Garth Elementary
Scott County
Kellie Moses
Garth Elementary
Scott County
Molly Seifert
Beechwood High School
Beechwood Independent
Molly Seifert
Beechwood High School
Beechwood Independent
12 educators in final cohort
Louisiana
Winner announced
Alisha Butler
Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired
Special School District
Alisha Butler
Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired
Special School District
16 educators in final cohort
Michigan
Winner announced
Erik Meerschaert
Lake Orion High
Lake Orion Community Schools
Erik Meerschaert
Lake Orion High
Lake Orion Community Schools
18 educators in final cohort
Missouri
Winner announced
Sarah Steffens
Elm Grove Elementary
Fort Osage R-I
Sarah Steffens
Elm Grove Elementary
Fort Osage R-I
12 educators in final cohort
Nebraska
Winner announced
Zac Konrad
Papillion Middle School
Papillion La Vista Community Schools
Zac Konrad
Papillion Middle School
Papillion La Vista Community Schools
4 educators in final cohort
New York
Winner announced
Emiliano Geoninatti
Robert Cushman Murphy Middle School
Three Village Central School District
Emiliano Geoninatti
Robert Cushman Murphy Middle School
Three Village Central School District
6 educators in final cohort
South Carolina
Winner announced
Dr. Christie Palladino
Aiken County Career and Technology Center
Aiken County
Dr. Christie Palladino
Aiken County Career and Technology Center
Aiken County
8 educators in final cohort
Utah
Winner announced
Talia Casares
Moroni Elementary
North Sanpete School District
Talia Casares
Moroni Elementary
North Sanpete School District
8 educators in final cohort
Virginia
Winner announced
Madeline Duffy
Nottoway High School
Nottoway County Public Schools
Madeline Duffy
Nottoway High School
Nottoway County Public Schools
14 educators in final cohort
West Virginia
Winner announced
Laura Presley
Princeton Senior High School
Mercer County
Laura Presley
Princeton Senior High School
Mercer County
8 educators in final cohort
How K12News Tracks State Teachers of the Year
K12News tracks State Teacher of the Year announcements using information published by state education departments and the organisations responsible for administering state programmes.
Programme structures differ between states. Some states identify traditional finalists, while others recognise regional Teachers of the Year, final cohorts or category winners before selecting the overall state honoree. For that reason K12News preserves the terminology used by individual state programmes while bringing the information together in one national tracker.
Only publicly identified educators found through official programme sources are included. A state with no listed finalists does not necessarily mean the state has no finalists; it may mean the 2027 cohort has not yet been publicly announced or located.
Data last reviewed: September 22, 2026
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