School district announces five finalists for 2025-26 Teacher of the Year honor
BEAUFORT – Five classroom teachers have been named as finalists for Beaufort County’s 2025-26 District Teacher of the Year.
The finalists are Allison Gallagher, science teacher H.E. McCracken Middle School; Elizabeth Herring, dance teacher at Bluffton High School; Audrey Kaney, a fifth-grade teacher at Red Cedar Elementary School; Alison Lopes, special education teacher at Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center; and Amy Turner, a fourth-grade teacher at Coosa Elementary School.
The five finalists were announced before an audience of educators during the district’s annual professional development conference. This year’s conference was held at Bluffton High School.
“Each of our Teacher of the Year finalists represents the very best of what it means to be an educator—passionate, dedicated, and relentlessly committed to the success of every student”, said Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez. “These five exceptional teachers inspire not only their classrooms but our entire district community. We are proud to celebrate their excellence and the profound impact they make every day.”
The District Teacher of the Year will be announced this fall.
Left to right: Dr. Mellow Lee, Deputy Superintendent; Alison Lopes, Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center; Audry Kaney, Red Cedar Elementary School; Amy Turner, Coosa Elementary School; Elizabeth Herring, Bluffton High School; Allison Gallagher, H.E. McCracken Middle School; and Dr. Frank Rodriguez, Superintendent
Supporting video footage: https://youtu.be/4OFParfLT4Q