Two Michiana teachers become 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year finalists

ST. JOSEPH, Ind. -- The top three finalists for 2026's Indiana Teacher of the Year award have been decided, with two of the three being from Michiana.

In September of 2024, Graciela Miranda, a teacher from Pike High School in Indianapolis, was given the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year honor, and this October, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation's L.A. High or La Porte Community School Corporation's Martin Briggs may receive the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year title.

L.A. High is an 8th grade math teacher at Schmucker Middle School, while Martin Briggs is a 4th Grade teacher at FW Crichfield Elementary School who's been teaching science and math in Michiana for 47 years.

 ABC57's Summer Horan interviewed both local Indiana Teacher of the Year finalists, discussing their work and why they've been selected.

If you would like to learn more about the Indiana Department of Education's process for selecting Teacher of the Year, click here.