KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the selection of the national top three teachers in its annual 2026 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award contest.
Established in 1999 and named after former VFW National Commander John Smart and retired VFW Quartermaster General Larry Maher, the award recognizes America’s top teachers for their exceptional commitment to imparting the value of Americanism and patriotism to their students by promoting civic responsibility, flag etiquette and community service in their classroom.
Awarded annually, the VFW recognizes one teacher to represent the elementary (K-5), middle (6-8) and high school (9-12) levels. Each teacher will receive a $1,000 award for professional development and $1,000 for their school.
Elizabeth Lee, a science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) K-5 teacher at Ranson Elementary School in Ranson, West Virginia, was chosen as the elementary school winner for her dedication and focus on service, respect, empathy and civic responsibility built into her teaching. She is known for hosting initiatives like neighborhood clean-ups, food drives and collecting supplies for local animal shelters in need, in addition to planning family STEAM nights that help strengthen student learning and build a stronger community. Lee was sponsored by VFW Post 3522 in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Selected to represent the middle school level, Tammy Gipson is a teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in McPherson, Kansas, and was chosen for her desire to bring the world and history to life in her classroom, and for her dedication to teaching the value and importance of community service, military service and civic duty. From bringing in local military and veteran families to discuss the meaning of Veterans Day and putting up a “Veteran’s Wall of Fame” with students writing letters to veterans, to organizing mock elections and hosting a piece of the World Trade Center from 9/11 to ensure newer generations never forget, her work with her students and the community continues to push the bar higher for her peers. Gipson was sponsored by VFW Post 2715 and its Auxiliary in McPherson, Kansas.
Selected to represent the high school level, Jeron Velasco, a high school teacher at Dishchii’Bikoh High School in Cibecue, Arizona, was chosen for his ability to transform history into a living dialogue of democracy, civic responsibility and community empowerment and support. A Filipino educator with American roots and the grandson of a veteran, Velasco bridges cultures through his Heroes of Cibecue project where students research, write and publish a book preserving the untold military service stories of White Mountain Apache veterans. Velasco was sponsored by VFW Post 9907 in Show Low, Arizona.
"To be a VFW Teacher of the Year requires a special blend of heart, resourcefulness and a deep-seated love of country, and teachers like Elizabeth, Tammy and Jeron represent the gold standard of education,” said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. “When instructors of this caliber inspire students through passionate, innovative and community-engaged teaching, not only do they embody the very best of the teaching profession, they also prove that education remains the cornerstone of a strong democracy.”
Each of the three national recipients will be presented with a $1,000 award for professional development and $1,000 for their school during the 127th VFW National Convention in Reno, Nevada, July 25-29, 2026. Nominate a deserving teacher you know for the 2027 Teacher of the Year at vfw.org/TeacheroftheYear.