Meet the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year

There is no doubt that teaching is a noble profession.  Some would say that it is the most noble profession one can have.

Also, most people would not deny that our teachers do not get the credit that they deserve.

Even though not every teacher gets highlighted, the Maine Department of Education and Educate Maine name one teacher each year as Maine's Teacher of the Year.

According to an article on the WCSH 6 website, Julia Edwards, a choral music teacher at Poland Regional High School and Bruce Whittier Middle School, was named Maine's Teacher of the Year for 2026.

The surprise announcement happened during a Thursday morning school assembly at Poland Regional High School, where students, staff, and state education officials packed into the gym to celebrate Edwards and her big honor.

Edwards has been teaching at the school since 2012. She leads both the middle and high school choruses and also teaches piano, guitar, and advanced music classes.

Earlier this year, she was named the 2026 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year and became one of four finalists for the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year.

She was chosen from hundreds of nominations after a months-long selection process that included classroom visits, interviews, and portfolio reviews. The field was narrowed from 16 county teachers of the year to eight semi-finalists, then four finalists before Edwards was finally selected.

As Maine Teacher of the Year, Edwards will spend the next year traveling the state, advocating for students and educators, and sharing her passion for the role education plays in shaping Maine’s next generation of leaders.