Maine Spanish Teacher Named Teacher of the Year
Gretchen Livingston will serve as a state advocate for students and educators following her award at Cony High School.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Does honoring individual teachers as 'Teacher of the Year' help improve local school quality?
The Maine Department of Education has named Gretchen Livingston, a veteran Spanish teacher at Cony Middle and High School, as the 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year. The announcement followed a rigorous selection process that evaluated candidates from across the state.
Why it matters
This award highlights excellence in secondary education and recognizes educators who demonstrate significant commitment to student growth. Livingston will now advocate for Maine students and teachers while representing the state in the national program.
Livingston, a teacher with 25 years of experience, was selected from a field of finalists after a panel reviewed her portfolio, interviews, and classroom presentations. She has taught Spanish levels 1 through 6 in the Augusta School Department since 2014.
The players
Gretchen Livingston
A veteran Spanish teacher with 25 years of classroom experience and the 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year.
Maine Department of Education
The state agency responsible for overseeing public schools and managing the annual Teacher of the Year selection process.
Cony Middle and High School
The Augusta-based educational institution where Livingston teaches language courses and chairs the World Language Department.
The details
The selection process for the state honor included a thorough review by a panel of judges, comprising educator portfolio submissions, professional interviews, and direct classroom observations. Livingston, who also serves as the World Language Department chairman at Cony Middle and High School, has expanded her students' horizons through eight service-learning trips to Guatemala. Beyond her classroom success, she remains an active figure in the school community, having founded the Cony girls lacrosse team in 2006.
Timeline
2006: Livingston founded the Cony girls lacrosse team.
2014: Livingston began serving as World Language Department chairman.
May 2026: Livingston was named Kennebec County Teacher of the Year.
August 2026: Livingston became a state finalist.
October 20, 2026: Livingston received the award at a ceremony.
The Home Front
This selection follows the established annual cycle of the National Teacher of the Year program, which recognizes educators for their impact on secondary education standards. It highlights the continued state-level emphasis on rewarding long-term pedagogical experience.
Families with students in the Augusta School Department may see increased engagement from the district's departments as Livingston begins her year of advocacy. Parents can look forward to hearing more about her perspective on language education and student learning opportunities throughout the year.
The takeaway
Livingston's career demonstrates the impact of long-term dedication to both classroom instruction and extracurricular enrichment for local students. Parents interested in student language programs can track her upcoming advocacy year as she represents the state nationally.
Further reading
For more on educational excellence, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Town Line Newspaper.
Live Poll
Does honoring individual teachers as 'Teacher of the Year' help improve local school quality?
