2026 VT State Teacher of the Year Linda Alvarez WRCC

09/12/2026

My WRCC Business 2 seniors are so excited to be a part of this project with UMass and the Town of Brattleboro

09/11/2026

Today’s lesson.

09/11/2026

Meet Dawn Walls-Thumma, one of three finalists for 2027 Vermont Teacher of the Year. Dawn teaches middle-grades humanities at Coventry Village School in the North Country Supervisory Union.

In her ten years in that role, she has become known for her lively, highly engaged classes where students explore history and the world through deliberation, discussion, and simulations. Five years ago, she started a student government that holds monthly town halls, empowering students to solve problems ranging from school policy changes to ADA accessibility of athletic facilities to most recently starting their own school store.

The 2027 Vermont Teacher of the Year will be announced later this fall.

09/11/2026

09/10/2026

So proud of my students!!

09/10/2026

Meet Linda McCuen, one of three finalists for 2027 Vermont Teacher of the Year. Linda teaches high school English at Proctor Junior Senior High School in the Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union.

Linda (Callnan) McCuen, a two-time recipient of UVM Outstanding Teacher of the Year (2009 and 2025) and Vermont Council of Literacy's John T. Poeton Award Recipient (2026) is a veteran teacher with over 20 years of teaching high school English. As an alumnus of Union 32 High School (class of '95), former educator at Fair Haven Union High School (13 years), and current educator at Proctor Junior Senior High School (10 years), teaching in rural Vermont for her is a core passion and source of personal fulfillment.

With literature, written expression, outdoor adventure, and community engagement, Linda taps into students' curiosity and their personal drives for improvement. Through broadening teens' connections to the outside world, Linda highlights the power of storytelling and the significance of civic connection. An example of her students embracing the community beyond classroom walls can be seen in her Service Literature course's volunteer efforts in creating and installing Proctor Town Forest's Storywalk, as well as their numerous contributions to improving and maintaining trails at Rutland's Pine Hill Park.

Linda encourages her students to be brave and accept challenges. Whether it's taking the stage in front of the entire school to compete for Poetry Out Loud, stepping into an Advanced Placement English course for the first time, or donning a pair of skis as a new cross-country skier, students in Linda's courses step up to the task.

Linda fervently believes in the following: "All students love stories; as teachers we simply need to bring the words on the page to life to amplify that innate interest. Additionally, every student wants to and can improve; effective teachers build up students' self-efficacies then push them to achieve greater understandings and deepen their skill sets. There's nothing easy about learning, but that challenge and risk are what make it rewarding and exciting."

The 2027 Vermont Teacher of the Year will be announced later this fall.

09/09/2026

Meet Pamela (Pam) Dow, one of three finalists for 2027 Vermont Teacher of the Year. Pam teaches Kindergarten at Moretown Elementary School in the Harwood Unified Union School District. Here is Pam in her own words:

"Currently teaching Kindergarten, my journey at Moretown Elementary School spans over thirty years, from Preschool through Second Grade, where I have had the privilege of guiding our youngest learners as they discover the world around them. I believe in intentionally creating a curious learning community. By designing inquiry and place-based curricula, I connect students to the natural world and their local community, allowing their learning to thrive. I prioritize strong literacy acquisition and am committed to fostering resilience and connection in Vermont's youngest learners.

One milestone I am proud of is helping to bring our outdoor education program, Educating Children Outdoors, to Moretown School in the fall of 2011. This schoolwide initiative continues to flourish through our collaboration with the North Branch Nature Center and local naturalists. We use our school forest and surrounding land to engage children in organic, inquiry-based learning, allowing students to blossom in ways that traditional classroom settings simply cannot. I am constantly inspired by the resilience and creativity of the students I work with, and I look forward to continuing to support their growth."

The 2027 Vermont Teacher of the Year will be announced later this fall.

09/09/2026

Congrats to all the 2027 finalist!

09/05/2026

Register today for the VCTM 2026 conference at VTMath.org

09/05/2026

So thankful for the shoutout from Sec. Saunders and for the opportunity to help shine a little more light on Career and Technical Education! CTE is doing incredible work for students across Vermont, giving them real-world skills, meaningful experiences, and pathways into college, careers, and their communities. I’m always proud to represent Vermont CTE and the amazing educators and students who make this work happen every day. 💚