Becky Haenfler, a middle school English Language Arts teacher at Avon School District, has been named South Dakota’s 2026 Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made by Secretary of Education Joseph Graves at a banquet in Fort Pierre Thursday evening.
Haenfler, a 19-year teaching veteran and Avon native, now teaches in the same classroom where she first fell in love with literature. Known for her engaging lessons and passion for reading, she inspires students to connect with challenging novels and become lifelong readers.
She holds degrees from the University of South Dakota and teaches fifth through seventh grade. As Teacher of the Year, Haenfler receives a $5,000 grant from the West River Foundation and a $2,000 honorarium from the Board of Regents to lead professional development seminars.
Haenfler will represent South Dakota in the national Teacher of the Year competition, with the winner announced next spring in Washington, D.C.
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