Anyone who has spent time in a Kentucky classroom knows how dedicated our teachers are and how committed they are to the success of their students.

There are a variety of awards each year to honor the best of our profession, whether that be the teachers in the classroom or the classified support staff that ensure our schools function well. These celebrations are always a highlight of the year, and in 2026, the celebrations are taking on a national significance.

Robbie Fletcher

Kentucky Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher

Michelle Gross, a math teacher at Spencer County Middle School and the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, has been named a finalist for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). With 22 years of experience in the classroom, she has shown a great amount of compassion for her students and a lot of heart when it comes to the lessons she plans.

One of the projects she leads with her middle school math students is a dream house project where students research different houses to develop ideas for their dream home, which they turn into blueprints and eventually physical or 3D models. Gross then invites the community to be involved, with local professionals visiting the class to offer feedback and advice on the projects.

The project allows students to begin seeing themselves as future homeowners and problem-solvers; a true example of vibrant learning experiences in action that lead to engaged students who have fun while learning valuable lessons. Gross represents the best of Kentucky’s dedicated educators, and we at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) wish Gross the best as we wait to learn who will be named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.

Kentucky’s support staff members are also seeing the national spotlight. These classified school employees serve in vital and often overlooked roles, from driving students to school to preparing their meals to working with partner agencies to ensure students’ vital needs are met.

Kentucky honors these professionals with the Kentucky Education Support Staff Professional (KESSP) Award, created in 2020 by Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. Once again, these awards highlight how dedicated the people who work in our schools are to making sure our children receive the best education possible.

The 2026 KESSP honorees are great examples of dedication: Vanessa Lyons, a reading intervention specialist and program facilitator for Taylor County Intermediate School, and Kala Marshall, an instructional assistant and girls basketball coach for Spencer County Public Schools.

Lyons is a fixture of her community, passing her love of reading onto the students she works with. She also leads by example: she recently organized a group of classified employees to show up early to help parents who needed earlier drop-off times due to their schedules and ensure an adult supervises student drop-offs in the morning.

Marshall is another example of dedicated service to her community, sharing her positive attitude and deep sense of responsibility with students as she helps them with math. Many in the community have known her as the girls basketball coach for Spencer County High School for the last two decades, and she has shown herself to be a great role model and mentor in that role as well.

Not only are Marshall and Lyons among the best of our support staff in Kentucky, they are also among the best in the nation. The U.S. Department of Education recently honored Lyons as one of five finalists for its Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award and Marshall was one of 36 nominees for the award.

It is an honor to have so many representatives of Kentucky’s schools being recognized at the national level. Kentucky has some of the best and brightest within our classrooms to make sure students have a strong education and vibrant learning experiences that make a true difference in their lives.