Estonia announces 2026 Teacher of the Year winners

The annual Estonian Teacher of the Year awards were held at the Vanemuine Concert Hall in Tartu, recognizing excellence across 12 categories and presenting the lifetime achievement award for education.

Heli Prii, a teacher from Hillar Hanssoo Basic School in Paide, was named the 2026 Teacher of the Year for the class teacher category. She was recognized for creating a safe, collaborative, and inspiring learning environment using diverse methods such as problem-based learning, play, and role-playing to foster critical thinking and student autonomy.

The lifetime achievement award for education was presented to Eve Kikas, head of the Educational Psychology Center at Tallinn University. Kikas was honored for her extensive scientific contributions, including authoring over 120 articles and developing assessment tools for school psychologists.

During the ceremony, President Alar Karis emphasized that the strength of Estonian teachers lies in their ability to adapt to change while maintaining core educational values. Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallase noted that teachers play a vital role in helping children develop intellectual independence.