FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Receives $5,000 cash and podcast feature

Jill Dwyer, a high school Early Childhood Education teacher at North Valley High School in Grants Pass, Oregon, has been awarded the prestigious Honored National Teaching Award for May 2026. As part of her honor, she received a $5,000 cash award and was featured on Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast.

Jill’s teaching is rooted in a commitment to reaching every student in her classroom. She intentionally creates an environment where all students feel safe, valued, and supported, especially those who may not have a stable support system outside of school. Through foundational skills such as time management, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking, her teaching reaches far beyond preparing students for a specific career path.

Jill Dwyer was nominated for this award by her student Ava, who celebrates how Jill creates an environment where students are comfortable sharing about their lives, knowing they will be met with understanding and guidance. Jill leads by example and is honest with her students about the struggles she’s faced. By connecting with them on a personal level, she creates strong relationships of trust and authentic connection. In her words, “Ms. Jill has changed the way I think about who I am because she taught me to be selfless. Through watching her actions, she taught me that altruism will make you successful, not egocentrism.” 

To hear more about the inspiring impact of Jill Dwyer’s teaching, listen to her story at https://www.honored.org/honoree/jill-dwyer.

Honored is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping great teachers in the classroom and inspiring a new generation of talent to pursue teaching. Each month of the school year, Honored shines a spotlight on a teacher who has changed the life of a single student. The Honoree receives a $5,000 cash award, and Honored shares their story on their podcast and social media. Honorees are selected from Pre-K-12 teachers of all subjects at public, private, and charter schools across the country.

For more information about Honored, visit honored.org. To nominate a teacher, visit honored.org/nominate.  For regular updates on Honored and our monthly Honorees, follow and like us on Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram. You can also listen to our podcast at https://honored.podbean.com/.

Honored Press Contact

Hannah Bowyer-Rivette

[email protected]

540-315-7052