Kentucky’s Lieutenant Governor started her career in education, so when she says this is her favorite day of the year, she means it. On Tuesday morning, just a few steps from her office at the Capitol, Jacqueline Coleman helped present the 2025 Kentucky Teacher of the Year award to one of the 9 finalists invited to the ceremony.
“As the highest elected mom and teacher here the Commonwealth, this is personal to me. I’ve walked in the shoes of educators,” Coleman told a group of attendees gathered in the Capitol rotunda.
The state received roughly 500 nominations for this award before a panel of members whittled the list down to 9 finalists. Each received a teacher achievement award, which came with a $1,500 reward for reaching this point, while the overall winner will earn a $10,000 bonus.
“Today’s celebration honors the most important profession there is: teaching,” said Robbie Fletcher, the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education.
Dr. Fletcher and the Lieutenant Governor recognized the more than 40,000 teachers state-wide, but only one would be able to take the title for the next 12 months from the reigning winner, Kevin Dailey of northern Kentucky. Dailey helped introduce this year’s finalists.