Roanoke County's Matthew Neale named 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year

Youngkin names 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A high school English and journalism teacher out of Roanoke County was named the next Virginia Teacher of the Year. On Wednesday, May 7, amid National Teacher Appreciation Week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin formally announced the 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year. The winning teacher was selected from eight regional finalists. Those finalists, according to the Virginia Department of Education, are as follows: Rachel Tate, Goochla…

Roanoke County's Matthew Neale named 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year

“I hope that now I’m teaching somebody who I’ve made a difference, and they’re going to go out and do the same, and go be that teacher that makes a difference or be that support system that does," Neale said.