Arkansas Department of Education names 15 Teacher of the Year finalists

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Education named its 15 finalists for Teacher of the Year honors on Friday.

ADE officials said the 15 are set to be honored July 28 at a Governor’s Mansion event.

Each of the educators receives a certificate and a $1,000 prize provided by the Walton Family Foundation.

“I am proud of the finalists for their dedication to the profession and student learning,” ADE Secretary Jacob Oliva said. “Those selected represent some of the best of the best in the teaching profession, and I look forward to learning from them.”

The 15 are:

Alana Ashworth, Science – Grade 5, Prairie Grove Middle School, Prairie Grove School District

Brad Beatty, Math and Science – Grade 5, Russellville Intermediate School, Russellville School District

Chenel Dale, Kindergarten, Asbell Elementary School, Fayetteville School District

Heidi Faught-Strong, Math/Science – Grade 5, Main Street Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School, Hot Springs School District

Susan Ford, Instrumental Music – Grades 7-8, Cabot Junior High North and Cabot Junior High South, Cabot School District

Gretchen Freyaldenhoven, Science and Social Studies – Grade 5, Greenbrier Wooster Elementary School, Greenbrier School District

Victoria Golden, English Language Arts – Grade 3, Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy,
Little Rock School District

Danny Hobson, Theatre & Technical Theatre – Grades 9-12, Alma High School, Alma School District

Tarji Russell-Chaffin, Biomedical Science – Grades 9-12, Dumas High School, Dumas School District

Kevin Sherman, Instrumental Music – Grades 7-12, Stuttgart High School, Stuttgart School District

Kaitlin Smith, Science and English as a Second Language – Grades 10-12, Conway High School, Conway School District

Misty Smith, Science – Grade 6, Goza Middle School, Arkadelphia School District

Jessie Walls, Second Grade, Jim D. Rollins School of Innovation, Springdale School District

Elaina Weaver, Math – Grade 6, Bethel Middle School, Bryant School District

Stephanie Williams, Music – Grades K-4, Mountain View Elementary School, Benton School District

Semifinalists will be named at the July 28 event, officials said, with the 2026 Teacher of the Year to be named in the fall.