Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Education has named nine teachers from across the state as the 2026 Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year, and two of them are from our area.
Representing Iowa’s nine education regions, each teacher was selected for exemplary instructional practices and their significant contributions to K-12 education in Iowa.
Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow says they are proud to recognize the nine educators.
Educators, administrators, students, families, and other stakeholders submitted nominations for the Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year designation. In partnership with teachers and education leaders across Iowa, nine teachers were selected, representing a variety of schools, grade levels, subjects, endorsements, and pathways to the teaching profession, with expertise spanning English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Special Education, English Language Learners, World Languages, Fine Arts, Marine Biology, and more. Each of the teachers will now advance as a finalist for the 2026 Iowa Teacher of the Year award, to be announced later this month.
The Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year is Stephanie Pritts of the Sheldon Community School District. The Department of Ed tells us that Pritts, an instructional coach at Sheldon Community School District, is a 23-year educator who has primarily taught first and third grades. She leads the district’s new teacher mentor program and facilitates the teacher leadership team to best support all learners.
The Prairie Lakes Regional Teacher of the Year is Kristi Mentink of the Harris-Lake Park Community School District. The Department of Ed says that Mentink, a kindergarten teacher at Harris-Lake Park Elementary School, has 28 years of experience. She was selected to serve on the district’s leadership team and as a professional learning community lead due to her proactive approach to problem-solving and commitment to improving teaching strategies that have the greatest impact on student outcomes.
The other 2026 Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year are Allison Pargeon of the Montezuma Community School District, Marissa Moore of the Clear Creek-Amana Community School District, Tony Onesto of the Burlington Community School District, Kelly Myers of the Murray Community School District and Homegrown Christian Learning Center, Gregory Barord of Des Moines Public Schools, Jennifer Ries of the Maquoketa Valley Community School District, and Dawn Rheingans of the North Scott Community School District.
More information about the Regional Teachers of the Year and the Iowa Teacher of the Year process is available on the Department’s website.
KIWA Staff Photo
