(State Superintendent of Public Education Names 2026 Teachers of the Year)....Tony Thurmond named the chosen teachers from around the State of California.

He praised the five outstanding educators for their passion, creativity and commitment to inspiring students every day. Imperial Counties Teacher of the year was one of the finalists. Dallana Gomez is a high school Culinary Arts teacher at Calipatria High School. She was named Teacher of the Year by the Imperial County Board of Education, and was automatically in the running for Teacher of the Year for the state.