We asked, you voted—and WOW did you show up for our local teachers! The response to our first-ever Macaroni Kid Roanoke Teacher Appreciation Awards was incredible. With so many heartfelt nominations and thousands of votes cast, it’s clear: our community LOVES its educators.
After a close race in all categories, we’re excited to announce this year’s winners:
🏆 Preschool Teacher of the Year:
Megan Clark, Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool
Megan won by just 0.6% of the vote—talk about a tight race! Her creativity, kindness, and commitment clearly made a huge impact on her students and families. One parent shared this beautiful story:
“She pours her heart and soul into her job and does everything in her power to make each kid feel special and safe. We could never thank her enough for everything she’s done for our son. We left one school with a poor experience and a lot of anxiety about the next steps. Within a few days of knowing my son, she was asking if she could buy him stickers with his favorite characters (that she had already found out about) to motivate him to get more involved and comfortable at his new school. My son went from crying about school every day to crying on the weekend that he has to stay home.”
🏆 Elementary Teacher of the Year:
Hannah Everett, Green Valley Elementary
Hannah narrowly edged out the competition with an amazing show of support from her school community. Her passion for teaching and dedication to her students truly stood out. As one nominator shared:
“She goes above and beyond for her students. Her approach to teaching is consistent, and she advocates for her students. She embodies everything a parent could want for their child in a classroom. )As exemplified with the noted interactions previously mentioned with my child.) ”
🏆 Middle School Teacher of the Year:
Jennifer Foley, King's Christian Academy
Jennifer claimed the top spot in another very close vote, and it’s easy to see why. As one heartfelt nomination said:
“Jennifer pours her heart into everything she does… her students, her team, and her school community. She brings a calm strength to every situation and has a way of making everyone around her feel seen, heard, and supported. Jennifer’s dedication to her students is unmatched. She meets each child with patience, creativity, and unwavering belief in their potential. Whether she’s building individualized plans, offering encouragement, or collaborating with teachers, she brings excellence to every task. She’s a quiet hero in our building. The kind of educator who changes lives in both big and small ways. I feel so lucky to work alongside Jennifer, to learn from her, and to call her my friend. She truly deserves to be recognized for the incredible impact she makes every single day.”
We are so honored to recognize these amazing educators, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who submitted nominations and voted. Your stories, shares, and support showed just how much these teachers mean to our children and our community. ❤️
To every teacher who was nominated: thank you for all that you do. Every smile, every lesson, every patient word—you're making a difference every single day.
We’ll be reaching out to our winners to get them their well-deserved awards. And to all our teachers out there: we wish you the happiest, most appreciated Teacher Appreciation Week yet!
