FOUR FINALISTS FOR 2026 OHIO TEACHER OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
(Columbus, OH) – The State Board of Education of Ohio is proud to announce the four finalists for Ohio Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to the four recognized teachers:
Christopher Monsour, Tiffin City Schools, High School Biology, Environmental Science, Anatomy & Physiology, State Board District 1 Teacher of the Year
Ronda Nisbet, New Lebanon Local Schools, Middle School Mathematics, State Board District 3 Teacher of the Year
Chad Thatcher, Whitehall City Schools, High School English, State Board District 6 Teacher of the Year
LeShun Collins, Orange City School District, Health and Physical Education, State Board District 10 Teacher of the Year
The 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the school year.
The Ohio Teacher of the Year finalists have the respect and admiration of their colleagues. Each finalist meets, and often exceeds, the five major requirements:
- Is an expert in their field who guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence;
- Collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success;
- Deliberately connects the classroom and key stakeholders to foster a strong community at large;
- Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning; and
- Expresses themselves in an engaging and clear way.
Ohio Teacher of the Year Program. Since its inception in 1964, the Ohio Teacher of the Year program annually identifies exceptional teachers statewide celebrating their effective work in and outside the classroom. The program's mission is to provide opportunities for professional learning and networking to a cohort of exemplary teachers as leaders and advocates for public education.
Selected teachers move through two levels of recognition: (1) the State Board District Teacher of the Year as a regional recognition and (2) the Ohio Teacher of the Year as the state-level recognition.
Learn more about the Ohio Teacher of the Year program and the 2026 finalists on the Ohio Teacher of the Year webpage.
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