News

Four Finalists Named for Maine Teacher of the Year

Four Finalists Named for Maine Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year Finalists - Maine Department of Education


There are four finalists for Maine Teacher of the Year.

Julia Edwards of Poland Regional High School, Bridget Wright of Lincoln Academy, Benjamin Johnson of Hampden Academy, and Dawn Lee of Morse High School were named finalists on Tuesday.

One of the four will be named Maine Teacher of the Year in October and will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year Program.

The award honors an educator who serves as an advocate for the teaching profession as well as Maine schools and students.

“Congratulations to the four 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year state finalists,” said Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Pender Makin. “Your dedication to your students, innovation in your teaching, and contributions to your communities have all led up to this well-deserved moment of recognition.

  • Julia Edwards, a Choral Music Teacher from Poland Regional High School in Androscoggin County.
  • Bridget Wright, who teaches English at Lincoln Academy in Lincoln County.
  • Dawn Lee, the School Library/Media and Unified Literacy Teacher at Morse High School in Sagadahoc County.
  • Benjamin Johnson, who teaches Latin at Hampden Academy in Penobscot County.

Latest Headlines

24 hours ago in Entertainment

Mikey Madison will play a Facebook whistleblower in Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Social Network’ follow-up

Aaron Sorkin is diving back into the world of Facebook with a "Social Network" follow-up featuring Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg and a newly minted Oscar winner as a whistleblower.

1 day ago in Entertainment

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ brings revolution to the (very) big screen

Paul Thomas Anderson spent about 20 years writing "One Battle After Another." After two decades, it's never felt more relevant.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Music

Q&A: Mariah Carey enters ‘the era of me’ with her first album in 7 years

Seven years after her last album and 35 years into a powerhouse career, Mariah Carey continues her reign as the queen of pop and R&B with "Here for It All."

2 days ago in Lifestyle

Lice concerns rise as children return to school. Here’s what parents can do

Children have returned to school and are bringing home stories about the things they learned and the friends they made. But some parents are concerned they could also be bringing home a tiny nuisance — lice.

3 days ago in Lifestyle

One path to kick-starting a healthier lifestyle: Start small

Wellness advice seems to be everywhere these days, but change can be hard. How do you start a journey toward better health that you can stick with, and not be overwhelmed?