The Little Rock School District rolled out the red carpet Monday night to celebrate some of the outstanding educators and staff members who make a difference in the lives of students every single day. The evening was filled with excitement, appreciation, and well-deserved recognition as LRSD honored its 2026 Teachers of the Year, support staff, and district leaders.
Congratulations to this year’s overall winners:
Regina Howard (Metropolitan Career-Technical Center) – Marian G. Lacey Educator of the Year
Katelyn Leisenring (Don R. Roberts Elementary) – Elementary Teacher of the Year
Diana Daniels (Mann Magnet Multimedia Arts & Digital Innovations Magnet Middle School) – Middle School Teacher of the Year
Kelly Taylor (Hall-West High School of Innovation) – High School Teacher of the Year
Don Kitchen (McDermott Elementary) – Overall Classified Winner of the Year
The District also proudly recognized its Rookie Principal of the Year (Ms. Aimee Young of Terry Elementary), Customer Service Award winners, and Administrators of the Year for their dedication and impact across LRSD.
A special moment of the evening included honoring Ms. Pamela Smith, LRSD’s Communications Director, as the recipient of the inaugural Pamela Smith Luminary Award, recognizing her lasting contributions and leadership within the District and community.
LRSD extends its heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s winners and thanks every teacher, support staff member, and employee across the District for their continued dedication to students and families. To see a full list of the individual winners, click here: https://aptg.co/nLJ4GP.
We also want to thank all of the sponsors who contributed to this wonderful evening!
