Maine Teacher
of The Year
Recipients
We’re proud to recognize Julia Edwards as Maine’s 2026 Teacher of the Year.
Bruce Whittier Middle School and Poland Regional High School
Julia Edwards is a passionate, innovative choral music educator at Bruce Whittier Middle School and Poland Regional High School. Educate Maine and the Maine Department of Education announced the award at a surprise ceremony in the school gymnasium.
“Her enthusiasm for music and its ability to serve as a connector across cultures and differences is remarkable, and her gift for extending that love of the arts to her students is admirable. Maine is lucky to have Julia representing and advocating for educators statewide throughout the next year.”
— Pender Makin, Commissioner, Maine Department of Education
2025 Becky Hallowell
Becky teaches fourth grade at Wiscasset Elementary School
“I love the kids best. It is so energizing to greet them in the morning and watch them hustle over to the day’s agenda to find out what we get to do that day. Teaching is a great outlet for creativity, and I love planning lessons that help nurture my students’ enthusiasm for learning.”
2024 Joshua Chard
Joshua teaches second and third-grade students at East End Community School in Portland.
“This recognition is about my amazing students as much as it is about me. How lucky am I to get to be inspired by these hilarious, insightful, motivated, and empathetic humans every day?”
2023: Matt Bernstein
Matt is a ninth-grade humanities social studies teacher at Casco Bay High School in Portland.
“I am extremely humbled and grateful for this recognition and, even more so, for the opportunity to work with inspiring colleagues, families, and students and for the guidance I have received throughout my career from so many in my community.”
2022: Kelsey Stoyanova
Kelsey teaches eighth-grade students Language Arts and Writing at Reeds Brook Middle School in Hampden (RSU 22)
“I am passionate about books. One of my favorite things to do is match students with the right books for them. Books that offer them mirrors, glimpses of themselves so that they feel seen, or windows, a view of identities and experiences they might not live but can learn and grow from.”
2021: Cindy Soule
School at time of award: Gerald E. Talbot Community School, Portland
2020: Heather Whitaker
School at time of award: Gorham Middle School
2019: Joseph Hennessey
School at time of award: Piscataquis Community High School
2018: Kaitlin Young
School at time of award: SeDoMoCha School
2017: Tamara Ranger
School at time of award: Skowhegan Area Middle School
2016: Talya Edlund
School at time of award: Pond Cove Elementary School
2015:Â Jennifer Dorman
School at time of award: Skowhegan Area Middle School
2014:Â Karen MacDonald
School at time of award: King Middle School, Portland
2013: Shannon Shanning
School at time of award: Bruce M. Whittier Middle School, Poland
2012: Alana Margeson
School at time of award: Caribou High School
2011: Shelly Moody
School at time of award: Williams Elementary School, Oakland
2010: Kevin Grover
School at time of Award: D.W. Lunt Elementary School, Falmouth
2009:Â Gloria Noyes
School at time of Award: Congin Elementary School, Westbrook
2008: Martin McKeon
School at time of Award: Sanford High School
2008: Martin McKeon
School at time of Award: Sanford High School
2007: Brittany Ray
School at time of Award: Narraguagus High School, Harrington
2006: Donna Tardif
School at time of Award: Montello Elementary School, Lewiston
2005: Sherri Gould
School at time of Award: Nokomis Regional High School, Newport
2004: Marguerite Lawler-Rohner
School at time of Award: Fred C. Wescott Jr. High, Westbrook
2003: Betsy Ann Mayo
School at time of Award: Crooked River Elementary School, Casco
2002: Peter Lancia
School at time of Award: Saccarappa Elementary School, Westbrook
2001: Elaine Hendrickson
School at time of Award: Skyway Middle School, Presque Isle
2000: Todd Fields
School at time of Award: Westbrook Regional Vocational Center
1999: Pete Pedersen
School at time of Award: Vinalhaven High School
1998: Joanne Alex
School at time of Award: Stillwater Montessori School, Old Town
1997: Paul McDowell
School at time of Award: Harrison Lyseth Elementary School, Portland
1996: Robert Maurais
School at time of Award: Yarmouth Middle School
1995: Argy Nestor
School at time of Award: D.R. Gaul Middle School, Union
1994: Dorothy Maxwell
School at time of Award: Sacopee Valley High School, Hiram
1993: Richard Kent
School at time of Award: Mountain Valley High School, Rumford
1992: Franklin McElwain
School at time of Award: Limestone Community School
1991: Stephen Ellwood
School at time of Award: St. Francis Elementary School
1990: Bill Nave
School at time of Award: River Valley Alternative School, Turner
1989: Marjorie Miller
School at time of Award: Longfellow Elementary School, Portland
1988: Irving Richardson
School at time of Award: Mast Landing School, Freeport
1987: Linda Voss
School at time of Award: China Elementary School
1986: Charles Seymour
School at time of Award: Camden Hills Regional High School
1985: John Moffitt
School at time of Award: Windham High School
1984: Lawrence Greenleaf
School at time of Award: Belfast Area High School
1983: Marlene Day
1982: Rena Labbe
School at time of Award: Madawaska Middle School
1981: Sarah Chipman
1980: Gordon Corbett
1979: Janice Parker
1978: Mildred Merrill
School at time of Award: South School, Rockland
1977: Irene Armstrong
1976: Roberta Rogers
School at time of Award: Falmouth High School
1975: Maureen Wallace
1974: Vivian Smith
1973: Doris Connors
1972: Marilyn Todd
1971: James Fiske
1970: Ruth Nunan
1969: Emmett Stevens
1968: Elizabeth Brennan
1967: Donald Mailloux
1966: Madelyn Linscott
1964: Karlton E. Higgins
1958: Dorothy Green
1954: Elizabeth Ray
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