Virginia Teacher of the Year Returns | Richmond News

Richmond News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 19, 2026 · 1m

Madeline Duffy, Virginia’s Teacher of the Year and a dedicated special education instructor at Nottoway High, is embracing her eighth year with renewed energy—welcoming back students and four new ones while championing their futures. She’s expanding her student-run Cougar Cafe, now housed inside the school, to teach real-world skills like money management and cooking. Beyond her classroom, she’s hitting the road across Virginia to spotlight rural schools’ triumphs, proving big impact can come from small budgets. And in October, she’ll begin her quest for National Teacher of the Year, always…