16 Outstanding Educators Named 2026-27 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year

16 Outstanding Educators Named 2026-27 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year

Mon Sep 28 07:44:00 PDT 2026

The 16 honorees will now advance to represent Los Angeles County in the California Teachers of the Year competition.

Sixteen outstanding educators were named the 2026-27 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year during the 45th Annual Teachers of the Year Awards Banquet, hosted by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE).

Selected from 72 district-level Teachers of the Year nominees from across Los Angeles County, this year's honorees represent the extraordinary talent, expertise and diversity of educators serving students throughout the region. Their classrooms and specialties span special education, dual language instruction, life and career planning, theatre, history, mathematics, physics and more.

"For 45 years, this celebration has given us the opportunity to recognize what we see in classrooms across Los Angeles County every day: extraordinary teachers changing lives," said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. "Whether they are helping a student discover a love of theatre or physics, preparing young people for life beyond the classroom, supporting students with disabilities or helping multilingual learners find their voice, these educators meet students where they are and help them see what is possible. We are incredibly proud to honor them and the thousands of educators they represent across our county."

Recognized as the county's top educators for the academic year, the 16 honorees received a $1,000 cash award courtesy of California Credit Union, the program's platinum sponsor.

They were selected through a rigorous process. Candidates submitted essays, lesson plans and other materials and participated in interviews with panels that included former California Teachers of the Year. The selection process recognizes excellence in teaching, innovative and effective classroom practices, commitment to students and educators who make a lasting impact on their schools and communities.

For 45 years, LACOE's Teachers of the Year program has celebrated exceptional educators and elevated the important role teachers play in the lives of students, families and communities throughout Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year Program, the largest of its kind in California and the nation, is part of the country's oldest and most prestigious recognition program for public school educators. The 16 honorees will now advance to represent Los Angeles County in the California Teachers of the Year competition, joining other outstanding educators from across the state.

The 2026-27 L.A. County Teachers of the Year are listed alphabetically by district below.

• Travis Arroyo
  Alhambra Unified School District
  LIFT (Learning Independence For Transition)
  Special Education
  Adult Transition
• Heidi VanKooten
  Burbank Unified School District
  Luther Burbank Middle School
  Social Science
  Eighth Grade
• Linda Lai
  Centinela Valley Union High School District
  RK Lloyde Continuation High School
  English and Human Development: Career and Life Planning
  11^th and 12^th Grade
• Gagik Galfayan
  Glendale Unified School District
  Woodrow Wilson Middle School
  History
  Seventh Grade
• Lauren Romero-Bush
  Lawndale School District
  Lucille Smith Elementary School
  TK
• Henree Haitkin
  Los Angeles Unified School District
  Luther Burbank Middle School Arts/Tech/Community and Police Academy Magnets
  Secondary Physical Education
  Sixth - Eighth Grade
• Latrese Martinez
  Los Angeles Unified School District
  Wilmington Park Elementary School
  Fifth Grade
• Kareli Rodriguez
  Los Angeles Unified School District
  Stoner Avenue Elementary School
  Dual Language (Spanish)
  Fifth Grade
• Kathleen Thomas Butiu
  Lynwood School District
  Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School
  English and Theatre
  Ninth -12th Grade
• Julie Wright
  Norwalk- La Mirada Unified School District
  Gardenhill Elementary School
  Third Grade
• John Buda
  Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
  Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
  Math (Algebra 2 Honors, Algebra 2)
  Eighth -12th Grade
• Lindsey Glick
  Redondo Beach Unified School District
  Adams Middle School
  SDC ELA, SDC Social Studies, SDC Elective
  Sixth - Eighth Grade
• Deborah Fleming
  Rosemead School District
  Encinita Elementary School
  Second Grade
• Scott Barton
  San Marino Unified School District
  San Marino High School
  AP Physics and AP World History
  10^th - 12^th Grade
• Jennifer Velez Simon
  South Pasadena Unified School District
  Arroyo Vista Elementary School
  Fourth Grade
• Amber Feldman
  William S. Hart Union High School District
  Saugus High School
  United States History and AP Psychology
  11^th - 12^th Grade