OHIO — Nominations for the 2026 Teacher of the Year Award are open until the end of the month.

Since 1964, the program has identified educators across the state for their work both inside and outside the classroom. Nominations opened in February and will close on March 31 for the 2026 awards.

To be eligible to apply for the award, nominees must:

  • Hold a professional Ohio teaching license
  • Have been teaching Pre-K through 12 grade levels for at least ten years
  • Hold full-time positions in a regular public school, a state-approved community school, or a career center
  • Work directly with students at least 50% of the time
  • Cannot have previously won an Ohio Teacher of the Year award
  • Intend to continue actively teaching

The annual cohort will represent Ohio as ambassadors for education as State Board District Teachers of the Year, 11 regions. Of these, one of the ambassadors will then be selected to represent the state statewide and nationally as the Ohio Teacher of the Year.

Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, recognized the 2025 cohort earlier this month during his State of the State address.

“Put a good teacher in the classroom and kids will learn,” said DeWine. “Few things make more of a difference in a young student’s life than the impact of a truly outstanding teacher. Countless teachers across Ohio pour their heart and soul into their work, and their students, every single day.”

Ohio's 2025 District Teachers of the Year were:

  • Melinda Newell, Upper Sandusky Exempted Village School District (Wyandot County)
  • Kimberly Haney, Amherst Exempted Village School District (Lorain County)
  • Justin Stone, Trotwood-Madison City School District (Montgomery County)
  • Alison Sears, Mason City School District (Warren County)
  • Michelle Dohrmann, West Clermont Local School District (Clermont County)
  • Treva Bolton, Logan-Hocking School District (Hocking County)
  • Amanda Schaeffer, Hilliard City School District (Franklin County)
  • Aaron Davis, Indian Valley Local School District (Tuscarawas County)
  • Jennifer Bindus, Aurora City School District (Portage County)
  • Daneé Pinckney, Ohio Teacher of the Year, Twinsburg City School District (Summit County)
  • Jennifer Winkler, Green Local School District (Wayne County)

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