2026 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year Finalists Announced
NCFL is excited to announce the six finalists for the 2026 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year. For 30 years, NCFL, with support from Toyota, has recognized educators across the nation who use a strong multigenerational approach to learning and focus on building effective family-school partnerships that support student learning outcomes and school improvement.
This year’s Toyota Family Teacher of the Year finalists are:
- Mary Cluley, physical education teacher at Burkburnett Independent School District in Burkburnett, Texas
- Holly Daugherty, youth services librarian at McCreary County Public Library in Whitley City, Kentucky
- Heather Hall, STEM teacher at Montview Elementary School in Huntsville, Alabama
- Kristen Kardos, health teacher and supervisor of health and wellness at Nowell Leadership Academy in Providence, Rhode Island
- Dr. Nisha Phillip Malahoo, STEM teacher at Pinewood Elementary in Orlando, Florida
- Richard Roe, career technical education teacher at Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan
How were the finalists selected?
Educators from across the country were nominated by their peers or leadership. This year’s six finalists were chosen based on a variety of criteria, including the educator’s demonstrated passion and persistence for supporting family engagement and the innovative ideas they’ve implemented to expand their programs.
What will the 2026 Family Teacher of the Year receive?
The educator selected as the 2026 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year will receive a $20,000 grant to further ongoing family engagement efforts. One runner-up will receive $5,000. The winner and runner-up will be announced later this fall, and both will be recognized at the 2026 Families Learning Conference, happening November 8–11, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.