LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Five teachers were announced as the semifinalists at the 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year Recognition event at the governor’s mansion on Monday.
The semi-finalists were chosen among 15 teachers, and each semi-finalist received a $1,000 prize provided by the Walton Family Foundation.
The top five educators were:
- Alana Ashworth from Prairie Grove Middle School
- Chenel Dale from Asbell Elementary School
- Gretchen Freyaldenhoven from Greenbrier Wooster Elementary School
- Elaina Weaver from Bethel Middle School
- Stephanie Williams from Mountain View Elementary School
The 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year will be announced this fall. The winner will travel across the state as a representative and be eligible to apply for the National Teacher of the Year program…