Matin Maani was named the 2026 Wake County Teacher of the Year, but he didn’t get his crown until Thursday in front of hundreds of cheering students.
Maani, a seventh-grade social studies teacher, strode through the halls of Apex Friendship Middle School on Thursday in a coronation ceremony filled with cheers, confetti and the song “Celebration.” It culminated in Maani receiving a crown from Lindsey Evans, his mentor and 2019 Wake County Teacher of the Year.
“I’m at a loss for words, to be honest, especially after this wonderful celebration my whole school and community held for me,” Maani said in an interview. “I think it’s a testament to the power of community, like the idea of how people supporting one another and making sure that everyone is seen makes everyone feel celebrated.”
It was a celebration that Maani’s colleagues say the beloved teacher deserved…