(Imperial County Office of Education announced the Teacher of the Year)... Selected as 2026 Teacher of the Year is Ashley Gibson.

She is a fifth-grade teacher at Cross Elementary School in the Imperial Unified School District. Gibson has taught 5th grade at Cross since 2023, bringing 15 years of dedicated teaching experience and a strong commitment to student success. Along with the local recognition, Ashley Gibson will represent Imperial County as a nominee for the California Teacher of the Year program. She will be officially honored during the Imperial County Office of Education Board meeting on May 11. Following that, the local chapter of the Association of California School Administrators will recognize Gibson on Friday, May 15, as one of ACSA's Teachers of the year.