INDIANAPOLIS – Megan Johnson, a teacher at Central Elementary School in Plainfield, has been named the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).
“I am so excited for Megan Johnson, a dedicated literacy champion, to serve as our 2026 Teacher of the Year,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Mrs. Johnson has made it her mission not only to improve outcomes for the students in her classroom, but to support her colleagues in doing the same for their students. Her impact can be felt throughout the building and can be measured in more than just test scores. Each day, where she is making the greatest difference is in preparing her students to succeed far beyond the four walls of her classroom.”
Johnson is a fourth grade teacher at Central Elementary School in the Plainfield Community School Corporation. With 18 years of teaching experience in upper elementary classrooms, Johnson is passionate about ensuring her students have the foundational literacy skills needed to thrive. Johnson was an early advocate of science of reading and completed extensive research, which she used to create real impact for students, while also training her colleagues.
Johnson recently completed 80 hours of professional development on science of reading and passed her Praxis exam to earn the new Early Literacy Endorsement.
In addition to supporting her students and colleagues to improve reading outcomes, Johnson is also a proponent of project-based learning. This includes developing partnerships within the community and allowing students to hone their creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills by applying what they have learned in the classroom to help solve real-world problems.
Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Ball State University and a Master of Education from Indiana Wesleyan University.
For over 60 years, the Indiana Teacher of the Year program has recognized outstanding teachers across the state who are making a difference for Hoosier students. With the mission of inspiring, rejuvenating, and celebrating the teaching profession, the program encourages schools to nominate their local Teachers of the Year for this statewide honor.
As Indiana Teacher of the Year, Johnson will work to help elevate the teaching profession in Indiana and represent Hoosier teachers statewide.
