ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Elk Grove Elementary School teacher Bethany Hancock was named 2025 Teacher of the Year by the Sacramento County Board of Education and honored alongside Sacramento teacher Derek Tahara at an Aug. 22 ceremony.

The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) recognized district Teachers of the Year and announced the two county winners during its annual celebration at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West.

Hancock, a third-grade teacher in the Elk Grove Unified School District, and Tahara, a third-grade teacher at David Lubin Elementary School in the Sacramento City Unified School District, received the Elinor Lincoln Hickey Award of Merit, the top honor bestowed by the board. Trustees O. Alfred Brown Sr., Vanessa Caigoy, Heather Davis and Youth County Board Member Nairobi Dunbar presented the awards.

The Sacramento Scottish Rite continued its tradition of awarding perpetual trophies to the winners.

 

Elk Grove Elementary School teacher Bethany Hancock received the Elinor Lincoln Hickey Award of Merit. Photo courtesy of Elk Grove Unified School District

Hancock and Tahara now join a select group of educators who will represent Sacramento County in the California State Teachers of the Year program. Past honorees include Elinor Hickey, the 1978 County Teacher of the Year and namesake of the award.

The two winners were selected by a committee of education professionals, including past Teachers of the Year, who interviewed candidates and reviewed essays from 13 district nominees. Large districts are eligible to nominate two teachers each year.

The program is presented by Sacramento County Office of Education in partnership with the Sacramento Kings, Sacramento Republic FC, Sacramento River Cats, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and Sacramento Scottish Rite.

 

Elk Grove Elementary School teacher Bethany Hancock joins a select group of educators who will represent Sacramento County in the California State Teachers of the Year program. 

Sacramento County Office of Education serves more than 258,000 students across 13 districts in Sacramento County, providing direct education, training and support services. It also leads the Capital Service Region, a 10-county area in Northern California.