Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday, during Public Schools Week, highlighted National Teacher of the Year nominee Katie Collins and promoted the state’s efforts to raise educator pay.
“As a former teacher, I have a special appreciation for those who educate our next generations. Bluff Park Elementary’s Katie Collins represents the very best of Alabama classrooms, and I could not be prouder to see her showcasing our state on the national stage,” Ivey said. “In Alabama, we support our teachers—and that includes meaningful pay raises and stronger benefits. When we invest in our teachers, we invest in our students—and when our students succeed, Alabama succeeds.”
Collins became Alabama’s Teacher of the Year in 2025 and is one of five finalists nationwide for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year Award. She teaches first grade at Bluff Park Elementary School in Hoover and has 21 years of experience. Next month, she will travel to Washington to interview with the National Teacher of the Year Selection Committee. Ivey said she believes Collins is the right teacher at the right time to receive the honor.
“It is a profound honor to represent Alabama educators both statewide and on the national stage. Traveling across Alabama this year has allowed me to see firsthand the extraordinary innovation, deep care and relentless determination in our schools,” Collins said. “Every milestone that our students reach is powered by the passion and persistence of Alabama educators. Thank you Governor Ivey for championing education in our state.”
Each year she has served in office, Ivey has proposed at least a 2 percent teacher pay raise. If lawmakers approve the additional 2 percent increase she proposed for the upcoming fiscal year, educator pay will have increased 18.5 percent since she took office.
Beyond base salary increases, Ivey said she has worked to improve teachers’ quality of life. In 2025, she signed the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act, which provides up to eight weeks of paid parental leave. She also set a goal of offering the highest starting teacher salary among neighboring states.
Ivey and the Alabama Legislature revised the salary matrix to allow midcareer and long-term teachers to receive annual salary increases instead of raises every three years. She also introduced stipends for hard-to-staff schools and for certified academic language therapists, special education teachers and speech pathologists, according to a news release.
“We are proud to have Alabama’s Teacher of the Year, Katie Collins, represent our state and our educators as a National Teacher of the Year finalist. This well-deserved recognition highlights Mrs. Collins’ dedication and the impact she has on students every day. Her passion for students and commitment to excellence truly represent the best of Alabama education,” State Superintendent Eric Mackey said. “I also want to express my sincere appreciation to Governor Ivey for her leadership and continued commitment to our educators and state.”
Ivey said she remains committed to supporting and championing Alabama’s educators.
