2026 Louisiana Teacher of the Year

regena hartley beard

zachary community school district

Regena Hartley Beard is a dedicated educator specializing in 5th-grade science and 6th-grade robotics/STEM at Copper Mill Elementary in Zachary, Louisiana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a STEM concentration from Louisiana State University - Shreveport. Recognized for her innovative approach to science education, she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and has been recognized as the Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year by the Louisiana Science Teachers Association. She is a certified teacher mentor, founded a robotics and coding club at Copper Mill Elementary, and serves on the Teacher Advisory Councils for her school system and the state. In addition to her classroom work, Beard has made significant contributions to the broader educational community. Her commitment to advancing computer science education includes serving on the Computer Science Advisory Council and is a Computer Science Teacher Leader Advisor. Beard shared her journey into teaching robotics and coding as a contributing writer for Edutopia’s article, "Incorporating Coding into STEM Classes.” She was also a member of the Let Teachers Teach workgroup, helping to make the teaching profession more sustainable. Passionate about fostering real-world connections in her classroom, Beard emphasizes the integration of computer science in elementary education, helping students understand the relevance of STEM in everyday life. Her approach aims to empower young learners by connecting classroom concepts to practical applications, nurturing problemsolving skills, and inspiring lifelong curiosity in science and technology.

2026 HONOREES

The Teacher of the Year Process

The process for selecting a Louisiana Teachers of the Year begins at the local level. Each school within every public or public charter school district is eligible to select a Teacher of the Year subject to their own selection criteria. Those individual local school nominations are sent to the District level for further review and consideration.

Each District Superintendent or public charter school District may select three outstanding teachers to forward to the State Department of Education for competition at the state level. Of the three District nominations, there will be one elementary, one middle school, and one high school teacher selected.

The Louisiana Department of Education continues a review and evaluation of all District candidates submitted. To learn more about the Teacher of the Year selection process, contact LDOE at louisianabelieves.com/teaching/award-programs. Questions regarding the selection process or on-line applications should be directed to the department.