FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Receives $5,000 cash and podcast feature

Anna Tykwinski, a 3rd-grade teacher at Westside Elementary School in West Fargo, North Dakota, has been awarded the prestigious Honored National Teaching Award for October 2026. As part of her honor, she received a $5,000 cash award and was featured on Inspiring Teachers: The Honored Podcast.

Tykwinski prioritizes creating a classroom community where students feel safe and connected. She believes it is essential to recognize that her students are still children learning to navigate the world around them. Whether it’s developing social skills, practicing adaptability during tricky situations, or simply making time for fun activities, Tykwinski supports her students’ personal development and learning processes.

Tykwinski was nominated for this award by Jamie, the parent of her student, Dax. Tykwinski has taught Dax for 2 years in a row as she transitioned alongside him from 2nd to 3rd grade. Last year, although Dax spent most of his days in the special education classroom, Tykwinski built a strong, meaningful connection with him. Through her support, he now spends most of his day in the general education classroom, helping him build confidence, strengthen social skills, and form meaningful friendships. In Jamie’s words, “She has always given him every opportunity that she can to watch him succeed, and he is doing it.”

To hear more about the inspiring impact of Anna Tykwinski’s teaching, listen to her story at https://www.honored.org/honoree/anna-tykwinski.

Honored is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping great teachers in the classroom and inspiring a new generation of talent to pursue teaching. Each month of the school year, Honored shines a spotlight on a teacher who has changed the life of a single student. The Honoree receives a $5,000 cash award, and Honored shares their story on their podcast and social media. Honorees are selected from Pre-K-12 teachers of all subjects at public, private, and charter schools across the country.

For more information about Honored, visit honored.org.  To nominate a teacher, visit honored.org/nominate.  For regular updates on Honored and our monthly Honorees, follow and like us on Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram. You can also listen to our podcast at https://honored.podbean.com/.

Honored Press Contact

Karen Sonneborn

[email protected]

310-738-6879