Our day with the National Teachers of the Year at the Googleplex

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There's a special kind of energy when 56 of the country's best educators are in the same room! Last week, we had the honor of hosting the 2026 National Teacher of the Year Program at Google's Mountain View campus to celebrate educators and explore how AI can support them in the classroom. Each year, every state selects their State Teacher of the Year, and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) provides the group with a year-long professional learning and development experience kicking off with an onboarding session at Google.

We were able to have deep conversations with some of these educators, hearing firsthand how they are using AI to do everything from developing personalized lesson plans to writing full-length scripts for the school musical. Throughout the day, a team of Googlers demystified the technology, showing teachers how tools like Gemini can handle administrative heavy lifting to free up more time for what matters most: teaching.

A teacher showcasing her exciting vibe-coding project

Getting hands-on with our AI learning tools

A highlight of the day was the Future Tense Workshop, where teachers learned how to "vibe code" using Gemini. The session was a deep dive into allowing educators themselves to "code" functional classroom tools - simply by describing what they wanted the software to do.

It was uplifting to see educators build custom apps to solve specific classroom challenges, with the diversity of projects serving as a powerful testament to the potential for AI to enable tailored learning. A music teacher designed a tool allowing students with learning challenges to interact with the screen via motion to elicit specific musical responses, while an English teacher from Guam created a fully animated version of Macbeth - featuring characters in traditional Guamanian clothing - to make the classic text more relevant to her students. A culinary skills teacher from Montana built a tool to help her students visualize and master the complex thermodynamics of food science, proving that when teachers have the right tools, they can transform any subject matter into an engaging learning experience.

Teachers interacting with the vibe-coding session

Looking ahead

It was inspiring to see the creativity of the 2026 State Teachers of the Year. We hope that with AI, that creativity can help their students overcome barriers to reach their full potential.

We're grateful to CCSSO for continually supporting these incredible teachers. By recognising the deep importance of good teaching and the role that AI can play, there is a ripple effect that will impact students across the country. To the 2026 State Teacher of the Year cohort: thank you for your passion and curiosity. We can't wait to see how you change the world of learning and education.

• Learning & Education