Gina Welch, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel, has been named one of four finalists for the Maine Teacher of the Year Award, according to a press release from the Maine Department of Education.
One of the four state finalists will be named 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year, an honor bestowed annually upon one educator in Maine. The announcement will be made in October, after the final stages of the selection process are complete. Maine’s Teacher of the Year serves as an advocate for the teaching profession, as well as Maine schools and students, and represents Maine in the National Teacher of the Year Program, the release said.
Welch was named the 2026 Oxford County Teacher of the Year earlier this year, and a semifinalist for the state award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maine at Farmington and a master’s degree in Educational Studies from the University of New Hampshire. She brings more than two decades of early childhood experience, including 17 years with Early Head Start and Head Start, where she served as a home visitor, lead classroom teacher, and family engagement manager.
When Crescent Park launched its first pre-kindergarten classroom, Welch became its founding teacher. Her play-based, child-centered approach emphasizes curiosity, hands-on learning, and strong relationships with students and families, according to the DOE release. She also serves as a mentor teacher, supporting educators in strengthening their practice and building meaningful family partnerships.
“Being named a 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year finalist is an incredible honor, and I am especially proud to shine a light on a school district that has continually encouraged and supported me in becoming the very best teacher I can be,” Welch said in the release. “I also see this recognition as a reflection of the outstanding colleagues and administrators who have supported, challenged, and inspired me throughout my career; this honor truly belongs to all of us,” Welch said in the release. “I hope this platform allows me to highlight and elevate the power of relationships between teachers, students, families, and communities and the important role teachers can play as leaders in building those connections. I believe that when we intentionally strengthen those relationships, we create schools where every child and family feels that they belong, which in turn impacts student outcomes.”