BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama’s Teacher of the Year, Katie Collins, has been named one of five finalists for the National Teacher of the Year, one of the nation’s highest honors for educators, announced Tuesday by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
Collins, who teaches at Bluff Park Elementary School in Hoover, was selected alongside teachers from Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
“Being named Alabama Teacher of the Year has been an honor that I will forever carry with me as I have had the opportunity to meet with teachers face to face from all corners of the state. I have seen firsthand the transformational work that is being done in public schools and the heart behind it,” Collins said in a statement. “It is an honor to represent educators at the national level and to continue sharing the role educators play in strengthening students, families, and communities each and every day.”
State Superintendent Eric Mackey praised Collins’ selection, calling it “awesome.”
“This is a great representation of Alabama,” Mackey told Alabama Daily News. “Mrs. Collins is a fantastic teacher, but more than that, she has embraced the role of representing all teachers in Alabama. There’s not another person I would rather have on this stage representing Alabama’s fantastic teachers.”
“This recognition reflects the momentum exceptional teachers build every day as they inspire students and support families and one another,” Hoover Superintendent Kevin Maddox said in a statement. “We are proud to have Katie represent Hoover City Schools, our community, and state on the national stage as a true example of the impact educators have far beyond their classrooms.”
Collins is the seventh Alabama teacher to be named a national finalist and second from Hoover, according to district officials. In 2003, Betsy Rodgers was selected as National Teacher of the Year.
“The 2026 National Teacher of the Year finalists exemplify the highest teaching standards, empowering students to be future problem solvers through project-based learning and community collaboration,” the National Teacher of the Year Selection Committee said. “Their work is rigorous and intentional, embodying everything you want to see in a finalist.”
The finalists will travel to Washington, D.C., to interview this spring. The 2026 National Teacher of the Year will serve for a year as a national ambassador for the teaching profession.
Collins’ honor comes amid recent national attention to Alabama’s academic recovery and growth.
Jefferson County Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin was selected National Superintendent of the Year in March 2025, an award from the American Association of School Administrators. He is the first Alabama superintendent to receive the honor.
Updated 2 p.m. to correct that Collins is the seventh Alabama teacher to be named a national finalist.
Follow Us