LEXINGTON, Ky. — Trino Grau, a sixth-grade science teacher at Bryan Station Middle School, has been named a 2027 Kentucky Teacher Achievement Award winner by the Kentucky Department of Education, according to Fayette County Public Schools. He is among nine educators statewide honored with the distinction.

Grau teaches in the Dual Language Immersion program at Bryan Station, where instruction in math, science, social studies and language arts is conducted in Spanish. The program serves students from elementary through high school in Fayette County.

Originally from Rafal, Alicante, Spain, Grau holds a master's degree in Education and a master's in Chemistry from the Universidad de Alicante, as well as a master's in International Education & Bilingualism and a Ph.D. in Education with specialization in Makerspaces & Educational Innovation from the Universidad Camilo José Cela in Madrid. He previously taught in Madrid, Orihuela and Murcia before joining Bryan Station from 2011 to 2014 and returning for a second tenure beginning in 2024. Grau also serves as an online examiner for the International Baccalaureate program.

"My favorite part of the job is helping students discover their unique strengths and watching them realize their true potential," Grau said. "I love creating hands-on, innovative learning experiences where students shift from just memorizing content to seeing themselves as capable, curious, and confident learners."

The Kentucky Department of Education received 600 nominations this year. Recipients were selected based on teaching philosophies, teaching experiences, community involvement and letters of recommendation. A panel of veteran educators from across the state conducted interviews and judging.

All nine award winners will be honored at a ceremony in Frankfort on Sept. 9. During the event, the department will name winners in the elementary, middle and high school divisions. From those three finalists, one teacher will be selected as the 2027 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. That educator will receive $10,000 and a six-month sabbatical with the Kentucky Department of Education to serve as an ambassador of the teaching profession throughout the state.