Meet the 2026 SignUpGenius Teacher Appreciation Giveaway Winners

Every year, teachers show up for their students in ways that go far beyond the classroom. This year, five of them were recognized by the people who know them best.

Teaching is not just a job. It is early mornings and late nights. It is remembering which student needs a little extra encouragement and which one just needs someone to notice they showed up. It is showing up, day after day, with patience and purpose.

At SignUpGenius, we believe the people who organize and support their communities deserve to be celebrated. Teachers are at the heart of so many of those communities, and the parents, students, and families who rally around them prove it every single day.

This year, we invited the community to nominate the teachers who made a difference in their lives. We received a wonderful response from over 53,000 people, and from those nominations, five winners were randomly selected to each receive a $500 Amazon gift card. Below, meet the five educators who were chosen and hear directly from the people who took the time to celebrate them.

Kimetris Baltrip, The Kincaid School

Kimetris Baltrip brings genuine heart to everything she does at The Kincaid School. Her approach centers on the whole child, creating a classroom environment where students feel safe, seen, and supported every single day.

From her nominator: "Kimetris has a wonderful heart and really loves what she does. She pours into the children that she works with and really works at creating a safe space for them."

Michael Redding, Park Hill High School

Michael Redding teaches a self-contained autism classroom at Park Hill High School, where students can continue learning through age 21 to build meaningful life skills. His classroom goes well beyond academics, and his warmth and accessibility make him someone students and families trust completely.

From his nominator: "He is the most approachable, caring educator I've ever encountered. His students learn far more than basic academics."

Tina Rigaud, Alton Elementary School

Tina Rigaud brings passion and dedication to every day at Alton Elementary School. She has a gift for making learning feel engaging and joyful, ensuring her students are not just keeping up but genuinely having fun along the way.

From her nominator: "She goes above and beyond, not only to teach, but also to ensure that the children are having fun while learning at the same time."

Stephen Bergey, Etowah High School

Stephen Bergey is a JROTC instructor at Etowah High School who gives his students far more than classroom instruction. He makes himself available for personal challenges, runs more than 20 student clubs largely on his own, and shows up as a steady source of encouragement for the young people in his program.

From his nominator: "Stephen Bergey is an absolutely amazing encouragement to his students. He often takes time out of his own day to help them with personal problems and co-runs over 20 clubs without help from the school staff."

Adrienne Jones, Primrose Spring Hill

Adrienne Jones brings extraordinary dedication to her preschool classroom at Primrose Spring Hill in Spring Hill, Tennessee. From the very start of a child's educational journey, she builds the kind of trusted relationships with students and families that set the tone for everything that comes after.

From her nominator: "She is one of the most authentic teachers that we have at our school. She demonstrates integrity, empathy, and reliability to everyone. She goes above and beyond to ensure she is prepared and meeting every student where they are at."

Hear From the Community

Teaching changes lives. And sometimes, the best way to show that is to let the people who experienced it speak for themselves. Watch the video below to hear directly from the nominators who took the time to celebrate a teacher who made a difference in their world.