LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Five teachers were announced as the semifinalists at the 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year Recognition event at the governor’s mansion on Monday.
The semi-finalists were chosen among 15 teachers, and each semi-finalist received a $1,000 prize provided by the Walton Family Foundation.
The top five educators were:
Alana Ashworth from Prairie Grove Middle School
Chenel Dale from Asbell Elementary School
Gretchen Freyaldenhoven from Greenbrier Wooster Elementary School
Elaina Weaver from Bethel Middle School
Stephanie Williams from Mountain View Elementary School
The 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year will be announced this fall. The winner will travel across the state as a representative and be eligible to apply for the National Teacher of the Year program.
“The secret to a great education is great educators, and it’s a privilege to honor a few of our state’s best,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. “This year’s finalists are more than just teachers; they are counselors, friends, mentors, and leaders. What they do truly changes lives. Congratulations to this year’s finalists – from me, from every Arkansas parent, and from our entire state.”
To learn more about the Arkansas Teacher of the Year program, visit DESE.ADE.Arkansas.gov.
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