Tara Goodhue, a science teacher at Lowell High School, was named the 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year in a ceremony held this morning at the school.

The event was attended Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, local and state elected officials, Lowell Public Schools staff and administrators, and Wellpoint General Manager David Morales.

Goodhue, who also heads the science department, shows her students that nature is all around us, even in an urban setting, and involves them in scientific work through Harvard Forest, Mass Audubon, the National Park Service, and other entities.

She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a curriculum design and science communication consultant with Fort Hill Consulting in New Hampshire, and a mentor teacher with the Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology program. She is also a member of the Lowell “Nature Everywhere” Team with the Children and Nature Network.

Before coming to Lowell High, Goodhue worked at Greater Lowell Technical High School in Tyngsboro for 14 years. She holds a Doctor of Education in leadership in schools with a STEM concentration from UMass Lowell; a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction in secondary education, also from UMass Lowell; and a Bachelor of Arts in biology with a minor in music performance from Clark University in Worcester. In 2020, the National Association of Biology Teachers named her Environmental Educator of the Year.

When Goodhue isn’t teaching science, you might find her hiking or knitting.

To go along with the recognition, Goodhue was awarded $10,000 from Wellpoint.

She is the first ever Lowell Public Schools teacher to receive the honor.

Chelmsford Public Schools teacher Sarah Costello was one of the finalists for the honor, receiving a $5,000 award.

Costello teaches first grade South Row Elementary School, where she carefully tailors her instruction, incorporates social-emotional learning into her lessons, and creates a welcoming classroom.

Wellpoint, the only health plan offering health care benefits exclusively to Massachusetts GIC members, has been a staunch supporter or educators throughout the Commonwealth and especially here in our Greater Lowell community.

Through their Classroom Quarterback feature, launched with Lowell Public Schools and InsideLowell in October of 2023, the organization has honored teachers who go above and beyond for their students.

Along with the recognition of being a Classroom Quarterback, Wellpoint awards these dedicated educators a $250 gift card for use on classroom supplies.