LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Spencer County middle school teacher is now one step away from becoming the nation’s top educator.
Michelle Gross, the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, has been named a finalist for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
"She is a shining example of how providing students with vibrant learning experiences can set them up for success." said Kentucky Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher, in a news release.
Gross teaches seventh-grade math at Spencer County Middle School and leads a gifted and talented class called The Academy, where students choose subjects they are passionate about and explore them in depth. She has spent 22 years in education, including 20 years in Spencer County.
Gross is one of just five finalists selected from across the country. The others include educators from Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
She and the other finalists will travel to Washington, D.C., for interviews with the national selection committee. The 2026 National Teacher of the Year will be announced this spring.
The 2026 National Teacher of the Year will spend a year serving as an ambassador for education and uplifting the teaching profession.
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