(MURRAY, Ky.) — A Murray State University graduate is competing on a national stage this spring, nominated for the America’s Favorite Teacher competition just one year into her teaching career.
Sara Morgan, a 2025 elementary education alumna from Murray State’s College of Education and Human Services, has advanced into the competition’s Top 20 round, which opens Monday and runs through April 2. Public voting will carry her through successive rounds — Top 15, Top 10, Top 5 — before semifinals and finals conclude in May. The 2026 America’s Favorite Teacher will be announced in June.
“Being recognized on a national stage is an incredible honor,” Morgan said. “Whether I make it to the final rounds or not, it is meaningful to have my story reach such a wide audience.”
At the center of that story is her own experience with dyslexia — a diagnosis she doesn’t keep from her students. Morgan speaks openly about her learning differences in the classroom, framing them not as obstacles but as part of what makes each person unique.
“We talk about how everyone has their own mix of strengths and weaknesses, and that just because something may be a challenge doesn’t mean they aren’t smart,” she said.
That philosophy shapes how she structures her classroom. Early in the school year, her students collaborated on a class contract centered on respect for different abilities, learning styles and perspectives. Morgan credits the exercise with building the psychological safety she believes students need to take risks, share ideas and participate fully.
“This personal experience has shaped how I support my students by helping me build a classroom community where they feel safe and supported,” she said.
Morgan also brings a decade of advocacy work into her school. A nine-year participant in Best Buddies — the international nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — she held leadership roles throughout high school and college before launching a new chapter at her current school.
Despite being in her first year in the classroom, Morgan said the nomination reflects growth she has already seen in herself as an educator, while crediting her Murray State preparation for giving her a strong foundation.
“Although I am a first-year teacher, I have grown exponentially since my first few months in the classroom,” she said. “This recognition reflects my commitment to being a lifelong learner.”
Looking ahead, she plans to pursue graduate studies in teacher leadership and learning disorders.
“My dyslexia allows me to see the world from a unique perspective,” Morgan said. “I want to help create a more inclusive world where every individual is celebrated and their potential is never underestimated.”
Voting in the Top 20 round is open now at americasfavteacher.org.
