The Modesto Rotary Club and the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) announced the selection of four local educators as 2026 Stanislaus County Teachers of the Year at the Modesto Rotary luncheon on May 5 at the Double Tree Hotel in Modesto. In addition, a Jane Johnston Civility Award was presented to one of the 12 finalists for exemplifying the principles of civility. 

The 2026 Teachers of the Year are Lindsay Nguyen from Stroud Elementary School in the Empire Union School District – TK-3^rd category; Tami Compton from Crowell Elementary School in the Turlock Unified School District – 4-6^th category; Kathy Borges from Cesar Chavez Junior High School in the Ceres Unified School District – Junior High 7-8^th category; and Aimee Shepherd-Matlock from Modesto High School in the Modesto City Schools District – High School 9-12^th category. The four selected as Teachers of the Year each received a $1,000 cash award from the Modesto Rotary Club Foundation. Mocse Credit Union also sponsored the event and provided funding for the awards.

The Jane Johnston Civility Award was presented to Richard Rocha from Bret Harte Elementary School in the Modesto City Schools District. Rocha received a $1,000 cash award from the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County for exemplifying one of the 12 traits of civility. The Civility Award is in honor of Jane Johnston, former SCOE Assistant Superintendent and Education Foundation member.

This is the 27^th year that Modesto Rotary and SCOE have joined efforts to honor teachers in Stanislaus County. The program not only honors local teachers and celebrates excellence in education but also provides an opportunity for teachers to receive state and national recognition. Two of the Teachers of the Year will be selected, through an interview process, to represent Stanislaus County in the State Teacher of the Year Program. One state winner then proceeds to the national level. “Teachers shape the future of Stanislaus County through their dedication and care for students, and we are grateful to Modesto Rotary for their continued partnership in honoring some of the very best among them,” said County Superintendent of Schools Scott Kuykendall. Sponsors of the Stanislaus County Teacher of the Year program include the Modesto Rotary Club Foundation, Stanislaus County Office of Education, and Mocse Credit Union, with additional awards provided by the Association of Stanislaus County School Boards.

The 2026 Teachers of the Year Finalists are:

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