An Oak Grove Elementary School teacher has been named the 2026 Sonoma County Teacher of the Year. Hayley Blondin, a veteran of nearly twenty years, was honored by the county’s Office of Education for her dedication to creating unique, hands-on learning experiences for her second-grade students.
The Press Democrat reports Blondin is renowned for her focus on place-based outdoor education at the school’s dedicated nature space, “The Grove,” where she connects young learners to sustainability and environmental science. Beyond the classroom, she heads the school’s student leadership program, coordinates family advisory committees, and recently completed a county literacy fellowship to improve student reading rates.
Campus administrators and students alike praise Blondin for her deep involvement in school life, noting her ability to bring the community together through everything from environmental challenges to classroom sing-alongs.
