Skip To Main Content

2025-2026 Teacher of the Year

It’s time to celebrate! Teachers of the Year are chosen by their peers for their leadership, dedication, and great passion for their students and our public schools.

Throughout their year of service, our 13 teacher leaders join a Superintendent’s Roundtable to engage in high-level, data-driven discussions and to collaborate in order to improve the experience of teachers and students in the district.

We are excited for these educators to lead the way in 2025-26, and soon one of them will be named our OCS Teacher of the Year to participate in regional and state competitions and professional learning opportunities. And, the results are in!

Join us in celebrating our thirteen school-level nominees for Orange County Schools 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year:

(photos arranged in alphabetical order by school name)

Jose Hidalgo, A.l. Stanback Middle School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Cheryl Smith, Central Elementary School  2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Karen Millin, Cedar Ridge High School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Jenna Busam, Efland-Cheeks Global Elementary School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Adam Parker, Grady A. Brown Elementary School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Cheryl Ramsey, Gravelly Hill Middle School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Tracy Thomas, Hillsborough Elementary School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Samantha Ervin, New Hope Elementary School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Erin Sigler, Orange Middle School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Laura Bell, Orange High School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Robin Leissner, Pathways Elementary School 2025-25 Teacher of the Year
Earl Guidry, Partnership Academy High School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year
Lisa McCurdy, River Park Elementary School 2025-26 Teacher of the Year

After three finalists are named later this month, Orange County Schools will announce our district 2025-26 Teacher of the Year on April 24. Stay tuned!