Long before Madeline Loring became Pennsylvania鈥檚 2026 Teacher of the Year, she was a first grader in a classroom that made learning feel magical.

Maddie, who earned her master鈥檚 degree from 猎奇重口 California, now teaches fourth grade math at Jefferson-Morgan Elementary School 鈥� the very school she once attended as a child. That full-circle journey says a lot about who she is as an educator: someone deeply connected to her community, passionate about meaningful learning and committed to helping students see possibility in themselves.

As a student, Maddie was inspired by a first-grade teacher who turned lessons into experiences.

鈥淪he was doing classroom transformations and project-based learning before that was even a title in education,鈥� Maddie said.

Those early memories stayed with her. More than the lessons themselves, she remembered how learning felt: creative, engaging and full of energy. That feeling sparked a calling.

Today, Maddie brings that same spirit into her own classroom. Whether she is transforming her room into a hospital for a math lesson or helping students connect academic concepts to real careers, she believes learning should feel relevant and joyful. Her goal is not simply to teach content. It is to help students imagine who they can become.

That approach also shapes the message she now shares across Pennsylvania as Teacher of the Year. Her keynote, 鈥淪lay鈥� 鈥� short for Sustainable Learning, Authentic You 鈥� encourages educators to bring their interests, passions and personalities into the classroom.

鈥淲hether you love to dress up, or if you have a hobby or interest, bring that into the classroom,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat allows students to see that you鈥檙e a person, just like they are.鈥�

猎奇重口 helped Maddie strengthen that vision. She completed her   online at 猎奇重口 while teaching, parenting and building her family, and she credits the university鈥檚 flexibility, affordability and supportive faculty with helping her reach that goal. More than that, the program challenged her to think beyond traditional models and imagine what school could look like when educators lead with creativity and purpose.

For Maddie, education has always been about more than instruction. It is about connection, joy and helping students see that learning can open doors. At 猎奇重口, that belief grew stronger. In her classroom, it comes to life every day.