Back to BlogsCelebrating Our Fellows
February 24, 2026
By Fund for Teachers
SPRING 2026 UPDATE
Spring ushers in a season of recognition for educators, which gives us the opportunity to do a little humble bragging by saying “We knew them first.” Join us in celebrating these FFT Fellows and, please, let us know about exciting updates in your careers and classrooms!
- James Sheridan (Houston) is an H-E-B Excellence in Education Award Finalist, earning him a$1,000 award and $1,000 for Yes Prep – East End Secondary.
- Prince Johnson (New York) joins The Institute for Educational Leadership’s spring 2026 Education Policy Fellowship Program.
- Shelina Warren (Washington DC) received the DC Public Education Fund’s Educator Excellence Award.
- Angela Guy (Houston) is an ARTEFFECT Ambassador through the Lowell Milken Family Foundation.
- Janet Damon (Colorado) is one of five 2026 recipients of the Horace Mann Educators Foundation’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
- Matt Holden and Bethany Seal are members of the 2026 Fulbright Teacher Exchange cohort.
- Erik Erickson (Saint Paul, MN) is in the running for 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
- Kate Van Haren(Pittsville, WI) is a 2026 PBS LearningMedia Teacher Ambassador.
- Jessica Culver (Ozark, AR) was named Secondary Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the National Council of Social Studies.
- Mirta-Valdes-Bradner (Easton, MD ) was recognized by The Educator’s Room as a Trailblazing Top 50 Educator. And,
- Melaney Sanchez (Owings MD) received her state’s TeachingAmerica250 Award through the Jack Miller Center for Teaching American’s Founding Principles of History.