This week, HPS Superintendent and CEO Dr. Andraé Townsel, Teacher of the Year 2025 Ashantee Hyman, and members of our Office of Talent Management were overjoyed to surprise our three Teacher of the Year 2026 finalists in their classrooms. The three outstanding teachers were selected by a district-wide committee made up of Hartford Public Schools directors, officials from the Hartford Federation of Teachers, and previous award winners.
The finalists are:
Lindsay Hansen, a Dance Teacher at Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts – Upper School
Taylor Miller, a Special Education Teacher at Milner Middle School
Adam Lynch, a Mathematics Teacher at Bulkeley High School
The finalists will be asked to complete a series of written essay questions and submit a videotaped lesson for the final evaluation. Our winner will be announced on May 21.
You can learn more about our finalists here, and see all of our 2026 Nominees here. These teachers were nominated by their schools for their outstanding work in service of our students.
All nominees must be tenured PreK-12 teachers in the Hartford Public Schools system who exhibit exemplary teaching skills, show commitment to the belief that all children can learn, and are active in community and humanitarian affairs.
The 2026 Teacher of the Year will be announced on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at an awards ceremony at the Hartford Downtown Marriott Hotel. The Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony is funded solely by sponsorships and ticket sales.
Hartford Public Schools is grateful to its invaluable event sponsors: Voya Financial Advisors, the Hartford Federation of Teachers, Autumn Transportation, Shipman & Goodwin, LLC, Pullman & Comley, the Robert Patricelli Family Foundation, Downes Construction Group, GCU, Professional Promotions, BRAVE Consulting Solutions, LLC, Educators for Excellence, Ricoh, and Parkville Market.
