Sheldon, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow have announced Stephanie Pritts, a 23-year veteran elementary teacher and instructional coach, as the 2026 Iowa Teacher of the Year during a surprise assembly at Sheldon High School.
Reynolds says Pritts is the kind of teacher whose impact extends well beyond the walls of the classroom, and she shares her expertise with educators in the district. Reynolds says Pritts’ desire to help every student succeed shows what’s possible when teaching techniques draw on proven practices grounded in evidence-based approaches, while also emphasizing tailored interventions for students who are struggling. The governor says this is what teaching looks like at its very best, and she says she was excited to present this award to Pritts in the presence of her students and colleagues.
The Iowa Teacher of the Year award recognizes exceptional teachers who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and who have made a significant impact on student outcomes and their fellow educators.
Pritts was selected from nine finalists who were recently named as Iowa’s Regional Teachers of Year, representing all education regions of the state. Pritts also serves as the Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year.
She says that she believes that to engage students, teachers must have strong relationships, because great teaching and learning is built on the foundation of mutual trust. She says it is also important to challenge our students to engage in authentic learning and higher-order thinking, because educators are always working to prepare them for success.
Pritts says she makes it a priority to build strong partnerships with families, hosting literacy nights to help reinforce at home what their children are learning at school. She also organized and facilitated a literacy conference for the school district aligned to the Science of Reading, and she supports the implementation of high-quality instructional materials with fidelity and strong multi-tiered systems of support for students.
KIWA Staff Photo
