Colleen Keough, a second-grade teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, has been chosen to represent New York as one of 48 public school educators to receive the prestigious 2026 Travelers Award for Teaching Excellence.
The award, given by The NEA Foundation, recognizes educators for their outstanding work in the classroom, leadership, community involvement, and commitment to creating opportunities for all students.
Keough has been a standout educator in the region. She was previously named the Schenectady City School District (SCSD) Teacher of the Year and, in October, was honored as the 2025 New York State Teacher of the Year.
Five of the 48 awardees will be further recognized with the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence. These educators will each receive a $10,000 prize and be featured in a documentary highlighting their teaching methods. One of these five will be selected for the NEA Member Benefits Award, which is the highest honor in public education, and will receive an additional $25,000.
Learn more here.