2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year Rachel Kinsaul, an agricultural science teacher at Morgan County High School, has been named one of five finalists for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) announced today.

Over the past year, Kinsaul has served as a statewide advocate for public education as the Georgia Teacher of the Year, highlighting the impact of hands-on, career-connected learning and elevating the voices of students and educators across the state. She will advance in the national selection process alongside four other finalists from across the country.

“Rachel Kinsaul exemplifies the power of teaching that connects learning to real life,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "Through agricultural education, she helps students build confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of purpose that extends far beyond the classroom. Rachel's commitment to her students, her community, and the teaching profession makes her an outstanding representative for Georgia, and I am proud to see her recognized on the national stage.”

The finalists will participate in interviews with the National Teacher of the Year Program's Selection Committee. CCSSO will announce the 2026 National Teacher of the Year later this spring. The selected educator will spend the following year serving as a national ambassador and advocate for teachers and students across U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

“I am honored and humbled to represent Georgia as a National Teacher of the Year finalist," Kinsaul said. "This recognition reflects the students, colleagues, mentors, families, and communities who make this work so meaningful. Agricultural education teaches students how to collaborate, lead, and serve their communities, and I am proud to share the incredible work happening in Georgia classrooms with a national audience.”

Kinsaul is the second Georgia teacher to be named a national finalist in the last two years – Christy Todd, the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, was named in 2024.