21st Annual Teacher of the Year Awards Winners Announced

STAUNTON – Madison Communications is proud to celebrate the 21st Annual Teacher of the Year Awards contest, continuing its long-standing tradition of recognizing outstanding educators throughout the communities it serves.

The 2026 Teacher of the Year contest marked the biggest year in the program’s history, with record-breaking participation from local schools and communities.

The contest takes place annually from March 1st through May 1st and is divided into nomination and voting phases. During the month of March, Madison Communications received 263 teacher nominations, compared to 212 nominations in 2025. Voting took place throughout the month of April, where the contest received a record-breaking 29,026 total votes, a major increase from last year’s 17,767 votes.

Madison Communications was also excited to see continued growth in school participation, with 34 schools participating in the contest this year, representing 8 more schools than the previous year. The continued expansion of the program reflects the strong support communities have for local educators and the appreciation shown toward teachers who go above and beyond for their students each day.

The 2026 Teacher of the Year Top 3 Winners, listed in alphabetical order by last name, are Mrs. Kristee Brady from Highland Middle School, Mrs. Jessie Buehnerkemper from Leclaire Elementary School, and Mrs. KaCee Smith from Medora Intermediate School.

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Each winner received $500 for classroom use, a custom-engraved glass book Teacher of the Year trophy, and a classroom pizza party celebration hosted by the Madison Communications Marketing Team.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the Teacher of the Year Awards program continues to be the heartfelt nominations submitted by students, parents, administrators, coworkers, and community members. The continued growth of the contest demonstrates how much local communities value the educators who positively impact students every day.

Madison Communications congratulates all 263 teachers who were nominated during the 2026 contest and thanks everyone who participated by submitting nominations and voting throughout the program.

To view the complete list of 2026 nominated teachers, please visit: https://gomadison.com/teacher-of-the-year/

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