More than 1,200 teachers were nominated, but only 100 in the entire state were chosen. 

The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation’s 2026 awards recognizing outstanding educators includes six teachers from Milwaukee Public Schools. They were chosen along with two MPS principals, among only 15 school leaders to be honored in the state, for the foundation’s annual Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership Awards. 

The Principal Leaders are: 

• Theresa Christensen, Lowell International School 
• Catherine Loss, Lloyd Barbee Montessori School 

The Teacher Fellows are: 

• Jody Bauer, Harold S. Vincent High School of Agricultural Sciences 
• Jennifer Bertrand-LaDuke, Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts 
• David Landeros Cortes, South Division High School 
• Suzanne Milewski, Ronald W. Reagan College Preparatory High School 
• Jaime Mutz, Ninety-Fifth Street School 
• Enock Yeng, Morse Middle School for the Gifted and Talented

"Education is where every future begins. We know great educators are the ones who make those futures possible," said JoAnne Anton, president and CEO of Herb Kohl Philanthropies. "Celebrating their work is not just recognition — it's an investment in the strength of our communities and the promise of the next generation. When we honor educators, we affirm the profound impact they have every single day and inspire others to carry that calling forward."

The foundation awards $6,000 to each of the teachers “in honor of their ability to inspire a love of learning, motivate students, and lead both inside and outside the classroom,” and $6,000 to each of the principals, “for their efforts in setting high standards for instruction, achievement, and character while fostering a positive and impactful school environment,” the foundation’s announcement said.

In addition, each winner’s school receives a matching grant of $6,000 to support student learning and school programs. In all, the foundation this year awarded $1.4 million.

A statewide committee selects the foundation’s award winners. The committee comprises civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program's co-sponsors: the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), and the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.

The foundation also supports the Wisconsin Teachers of the Year program. The public educators honored in 2026 are automatically considered for Wisconsin Teachers of the Year, and one teacher is chosen to represent Wisconsin in the National Teacher of the Year program.

Last year, foundation honoree 2nd-grade teacher Toni Fink of Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School went on to be named one of five Wisconsin Teachers of the Year. Two years ago, bilingual counselor Ana Baez of South Division High School was named a Wisconsin Teacher of the Year and went on to become the state’s representative to the National Teacher of the Year program.