2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year: Megan Johnson
In October 2025, Megan Johnson was named our 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Johnson is a fourth grade teacher at Central Elementary School in the Plainfield Community School Corporation. With 18 years of teaching experience in upper elementary classrooms, Mrs. Johnson is passionate about ensuring her students have the foundational literacy skills needed to thrive. She was an early advocate of science of reading and completed extensive research, which she uses to create real impact for students, while also training her colleagues. Read more about Mrs. Johnson here and watch the surprise announcement here.
Indiana Teacher of the Year
For over 60 years, the Indiana Teacher of the Year program has recognized outstanding teachers across the state who are making a difference for Hoosier students. With the mission of inspiring, rejuvenating, and celebrating the teaching profession, the program encourages schools to nominate their local Teachers of the Year for this statewide honor.
The Indiana Teacher of the Year works to help elevate the teaching profession in Indiana and represent Hoosier teachers statewide. IDOE is honored to support the Indiana Teacher of the Year program by working with the school district where the teacher is employed to provide release time and coverage for several national events, as well as several statewide opportunities. However, the Indiana Teacher of the Year does maintain their role as a full-time teacher during their year of service. To honor the balance of professional and personal time spent preparing for and traveling to speaking engagements, we ask that all speaking engagement requests be submitted here with as much notice as possible.
Information about the 2027 Indiana Teacher of the Year application will be released spring 2026.
Welcome to the Indiana Teacher of the Year Program!
Previous Indiana Teachers of the Year
- 2025 Teacher of the Year: Graciela Miranda
- 2024 Teacher of the Year: Eric Jenkins
- 2023 Teacher of the Year: Tara Cocanower
- 2022 Teacher of the Year: Sharita Ware
- 2020 Teacher of the Year: Katheryn Pourcho
- 2019 Teacher of the Year: Tamara Markey
- 2018 Teacher of the Year: Jerome Flewelling
- 2017 Teacher of the Year: Jitka Nelson
- 2016 Teacher of the Year: Jean Russell
- Past Indiana Teachers of the Year
- Past Indiana History Teacher of the Year
- Past Indiana Teacher of the Year Program Finalists (1997-present)
Contact INTOY@doe.in.gov with any questions.
Indiana Teacher of the Year Sponsors
