News Release and information regarding the California Teachers of the Year (CA TOY) Awardees for 2026.
Additional information can be found on the October 30, 2025, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2026 California Teachers of the Year News Release #25-47.
April Raguindin
National Teacher of the Year Candidate
Elementary school; Literacy
Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary School, Bakersfield
Bakersfield City School District, Kern County
April Raguindin is a first-grade teacher at Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary School in the Bakersfield City School District, Kern County.
Superintendent Thurmond nominated Mrs. Raguindin as California’s representative for the National Teacher of the Year competition. Mrs. Raguindin will compete against other state nominees, and the 2026 National Teacher of the Year will be announced in the spring.
Rene Romero
High school; International Baccalaureate Language and Literature
South Hills High School, West Covina
Covina Valley Unified School District, Los Angeles County
Rene Romero is an eleventh- and twelfth-grade International Baccalaureate Language and Literature teacher at South Hills High School in the Covina Valley Unified School Distric, Los Angeles County.
Chrizia Dela Rosa
High School: Mathematics
Piemont High School, San Jose
East Side Union High School District, Santa Clara County
Chrizia Dela Rosa is a ninth-grade mathematics teacher at Piedmont Hills High School in the East Side Union High School District, Santa Clara County.
Heather Povinelli
Elementary school
Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy, Monrovia
Monrovia Unified School District, Los Angeles County
Heather Povinelli is a second-grade teacher at Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy in the Monrovia Unified School District, Los Angeles County.
Corina Martinez
Kindergarten
Pioneer Elementary School, Escondido
Escondido Union School District, San Diego County
Corina Martinez is a kindergarten teacher at Pioneer Elementary School in the Escondido Union School District, San Diego County.