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SAN BERNARDINO — Four exceptional educators selected as 2026 San Bernardino Countywide Teachers of the Year were honored during a September 25 ceremony hosted by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS). This year’s honorees, representing four districts from throughout the County, were recognized for dedicating their careers to student success.
“Our honorees are a powerful representation of what it means to serve students. Their dedication, passion and daily commitment make a lasting impact not only in their classrooms, but across our schools and communities,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “It is truly rewarding to celebrate their achievements and recognize the difference they are making in the lives of our youth.”
The County’s awardees continually go above and beyond for their students, cultivating a love of learning and building positive, supportive and welcoming classrooms. Their commitment to education exemplifies the spirit of the California Teacher of the Year award and stands as a shining example for educators everywhere.
To learn more about this year’s award winners, please click here.
COUNTYWIDE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR:
Kristen Mariani
Mentone Elementary School
Redlands Unified School District
Cathleen Schmidt
Oak View High School and Education Center
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District
Michelle Vazquez
Live Oak Elementary School
Fontana Unified School District
Kimberly Williams
Myers Elementary School
Rialto Unified School District
Annually, each of the 33 school districts in San Bernardino County select a Teacher of the Year. The district’s finalist then advances to the county-level review. After submitting their application for consideration, a screening and selection committee narrows down several finalists to compete for the title of California Teacher of the Year. The California Department of Education will announce the 2026 California Teacher of the Year awardees in October 2025.
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