Sarah Brown Wessling Teaching & Learning

Commence.

I spent most of last night rewinding and fast forwarding through the memory tapes of this guy as he did the ceremonial walk from one side to the other. It’s a beautiful, funny thing to hang on and let go at the same time. So proud of you, .wessling ❤️

Commence.

I spent most of last night rewinding and fast forwarding through the memory tapes of this guy as he did the ceremonial walk from one side to the other. It’s a beautiful, funny thing to hang on and let go at the same time. So proud of you, Evan. ❤️

I can’t believe it’s been a week since this whirlwind two days in NYC to and ABC News Prime Live with Linsey Davis! Being off to the side, watching Leon Smith step into this new National Teacher of the Year role again and again, just reaffirms what I already believe: teachers can turn any space into their classroom.

I’m so grateful to do this work and be right there as these stories get told.

What a day! We got to announce the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, Leon Smith on ! I’ve been doing a lot of watching…the way every minute is purposeful in his classroom, the way his students talk to him and to each other, the way his colleagues laugh with him, the way his own children look up to him. Then I got to watch today as everyone else got to experience what I have: a teacher defined by humility, purpose, and a genuine passion for making the world a little better one student, one teacher at a time. Enjoy a few of the BTS moments and a special surprise from Dr. J! (That was a tough secret to keep! 😉)

Classrooms will always have my heart and teaching 7th and 8th grade ELA last week filled it.

We worked on following transition words to elaborate on writing, we started a new novel, we analyzed photos and artwork and TEDtalks, we used shape and color to represent our thinking and got meta about all of it. I’m incredibly grateful to Ashley Brown and Paolo Wheaton for opening their classrooms and all the grade level teachers at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Hanford for jumping into this “coaching from the classroom” kind of professional development.

Working in the classroom is the ultimate rubber meeting road and where we learn our best lessons.

I often have to pinch myself when I’m doing this work, especially when I get to learn about the extraordinary teaching being done in classrooms across the country. Interviews for 2026 National Teacher of the Year is one of these experiences that leaves me humbled and inspired. Katie, Rachel, Michelle, Linda, and Leon brought their whole selves to this process and along with them the students, families and communities they love. Watching these five individually and together fills me with so much joy and hope. Congrats you five, you did it!!

It always takes me longer than it should to share after I’ve spent time with teachers. I think it’s because I like the way the experience evolves for me. It goes from exciting and euphoric to transformative and thoughtful. I find myself focusing in on the smallest of conversations and interactions, the observations I might have overlooked without slower time. Here’s to a thousand small moments and the teachers and facilitators who made them happen.

Last week’s 2026 NTOY Program Orientation was incredible! Teachers showed up curious and left more confident. This rock star facilitator team picked up every loose thread and created the safest of spaces for every question, conversation and realization. And 2025 NTOY, Ashlie Crosson reminded us that even when we’re unsure, amazing might be just around the corner.

I’m always grateful for the staff at CCSSO and the partners at Google who support our teachers with genuine appreciation and commitment. What a joy to do this work!

So proud to help introduce these five teachers who are finalists for 2026 National Teacher of the Year! While they each bring unique experiences and represent different facets of the profession, it’s clear they all share a passion and purposefulness for their students and communities.

You can read more about them here: https://ntoy.ccsso.org/blog/2026-ntoy-finalists.

11 years of this Emerging Educators Conference and it’s always an affirmation of the importance of creating intentional spaces for our newest colleagues to the profession.

Especially when one of them is a former student from my Teaching Academy class. Especially when I get to hug and reconnect with years of Iowa STOYs and mentor teachers. Especially when you get to see 2025 Iowa STOY, Melanie Bloom, lead with so much enthusiasm. Especially when Lindsey and Liz come from Nebraska and Kansas to support their cohort. Especially when 2025 NYOY, Ashlie Crosson, shares her lessons for seeing failure as an opportunity for a second act.

I couldn’t have appreciated this extra time any more .crosson 🤍🤍🤍

There’s something about beginnings that always make me wonder about all the beginnings that led to this one. I finally got to virtually meet this amazing cohort of State Teachers of the Year this week and can’t wait to learn from them, hear their stories, and revel in what comes from this beginning. Here’s to the 2026 State Teachers of the Year!