Each year, the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year program honors a licensed preK–12 Massachusetts public school teacher who exemplifies excellent teaching in the Commonwealth. The Teacher of the Year program recognizes and celebrates educators who make a positive impact on student learning and well-being; use student-centered, innovative approaches to teaching and learning; and demonstrate leadership within and beyond the classroom.
For more information on the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year program, please click on the following links.
The Teacher of the Year is an exemplary educator who will serve as a liaison to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), act as an ambassador to other teachers in the state, and have the opportunity to connect with teachers from other states. The Teacher of the Year program is an opportunity for teachers to be celebrated and share their voice on policies and practices that impact educators and students across the Commonwealth.
The Teacher of the Year is a teacher who:
Creates an affirming environment where students engage in deeper learning and are held to high expectations with targeted support
Builds strong relationships with students, families, and the larger school and district community
Has ideas about great teaching, feels strongly about what it looks like to provide high-quality instruction, and is eager to work with and learn from a diverse group of stakeholders to make our education system better
Opportunities for the Teacher of the Year:
The Teacher of the Year will have the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession, a role that will include public speaking and writing opportunities. This is a chance for the teacher to share ideas and to learn from others. It is not the expectation that the Teacher of the Year speaks on behalf of all teachers. Rather, the selected educator should be willing to share their individual experiences and perspectives while also acknowledging the variety of viewpoints that exist among educators. The Teacher of the Year maintains full-time teaching responsibilities.
The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year becomes the state's candidate for National Teacher of the Year. The National Teacher of the Year spends a year out of the classroom traveling across the country and internationally.
Contingent upon the national program and funding, the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year attends a four-day conference; travels to Washington, D.C. for a week to participate in numerous recognition activities and potentially meet the President; spends a week at Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala.; and attends a virtual "Next Steps," all with other states' teachers of the year.
Desirée Garcia Kindergarten teacher in a dual-language program German Gerena Community School Springfield Public Schools
Desirée Garcia teaches kindergarten in a dual-language program at German Gerena Community School in Springfield. She believes that bilingualism is a powerful asset and that students thrive when their language, culture, and identity are honored in the classroom. She provides engaging, culturally responsive instruction that supports biliteracy, academic growth, and social-emotional development. She is a member of her school's Instructional Leadership Team, the school's math instructional team, and DIRE, a school group focused on Diversity, Inclusion, Representation, and Equity.
She has been a teacher for 10 years, four of those in a dual-language program. She holds a Master of Education in early childhood education from American International College and a Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education from Bay Path University. She also completed a bilingual and dual language teacher preparation program at the University of Massachusetts. In 2024, she received a Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award. When she isn't teaching or planning the next day's lesson, Desirée may be found reading or vacationing.
Previous Massachusetts Teachers of the Year
Last Updated: November 6, 2026