2026 Teacher of the Year Megan Burkholder and her students on the playground

Every school district has its stars, and at Hans Herr Elementary School, learning support teacher Megan Burkholder - affectionately known around school as Mrs. B. - shines in her positive, supportive  way onto students, co-workers, and anyone else who crosses her path. That’s why it’s no surprise that, this year, Megan was officially awarded the prestigious 2026 Lampeter-Strasburg Master of Pedagogy Award, or as it’s better known, the Teacher of the Year.

Karen Staub, the district’s director of special services, introduced Megan at the district’s annual Recognition & Honors Night on May 8. Describing her as an educator who "chooses to bring life every day," Mrs. Staub explained that Megan’s recognition is a testament to a two-decade career marked by heart, dedication, and unmatched energy.

A CALLING FOUND IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE
Interestingly, entering education wasn't Megan’s childhood dream. Her trajectory changed entirely during her freshman year of college after attending a funeral for a family friend’s son, who had been a special education teacher. As loved ones reminisced, she learned of his favorite classroom trick: pretending to forget his multiplication facts so his students could triumphantly shout out the answers.

Deeply moved, Megan changed her major the very next week, embarking on a journey that eventually brought her to Lampeter-Strasburg in 2006. At the time, she was balancing a new teaching career and the beautiful chaos of raising her first child, who is now in college in Florida. Today, she is a proud mom of three, and her children have practically grown up in the district, spending their summers helping their mom set up her classroom libraries and organize papers.

THE ULTIMATE "CHEERLEADER" FOR KIDS
What makes Megan so beloved by students, parents, and staff alike? She doesn't just see data points or reading intervention brackets; she sees the whole child. Former students fondly remember her as bubbly, kind, and as the teacher who knew exactly when a Hershey’s Kiss was required to brighten their days.

"Megan was a great pick because she just represents what a teacher should be," said Jeff Smecker, Hans Herr Elementary’s principal. "She is all about the kids and doing what is best for them, and that’s her motivation." Dr. Smecker noted that she manages a massive caseload of students each year, both in the classroom she co-teaches with Mrs. Elizabeth Montanti and with other students she sees less frequently, handling it all with incredible grace.

Megan admits that while she loves teaching literacy, her absolute favorite part of the job is being her students' biggest fan. Her classroom is a place of constant celebration, featuring spontaneous math jingles, random acts of fraction singing, and unlimited celebration. She leads her class in cheers for everything from a student hitting a double in Saturday's baseball game to a breakthrough on a spelling test.

In her heartwarming acceptance speech, Megan humbly shifted the spotlight to her own "village of encouragers." She credited her colleagues, classroom aides, and family for keeping her fueled. Whether it’s a supervisor showing up with a superhero cape after a tough meeting, her mom helping fold laundry so she can type IEPs, or her husband making late-night Walmart runs for ice cream party sprinkles, Megan noted that she is constantly surrounded by support.

As Mrs. Staub beautifully summarized during the presentation, "I have never met a parent or a student that Megan could not connect with. It isn't a tactic or a strategy. It is her whole being. It is the heart from which only kindness and encouragement flow."

Congratulations, Mrs. B.! Thank you for teaching our kids that they can do hard things, and for cheering them on every single day.