A youth services librarian at McCreary County Public Library in Whitley City has been selected as one of six finalists nationwide for the 2026 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year award, recognizing innovative efforts to strengthen family engagement in education, according to reporting from the Lane Report.

Holly Daugherty, who serves the southern Kentucky rural community, was chosen from educators nominated across the country for the annual honor presented by the Louisville-based National Center for Families Learning. The award recognizes educators who take a multigenerational approach to education and develop family-school partnerships designed to improve student learning outcomes.

The winner of the 2026 award will receive a $20,000 grant to expand ongoing family engagement efforts, while the runner-up will receive $5,000. Winners are expected to be announced later this fall and will be recognized during the Families Learning Conference scheduled for November 8-11 in San Antonio.

Finalists were evaluated on their commitment to family engagement and innovative approaches to expanding educational programs. The other five finalists are teachers across the nation: Mary Cluley, a physical education teacher in Burkburnett, Texas; Heather Hall, a STEM teacher in Huntsville, Alabama; Kristen Kardos, a health teacher and supervisor of health and wellness in Providence, Rhode Island; Dr. Nisha Phillip Malahoo, a STEM teacher in Orlando, Florida; and Richard Roe, a career technical education teacher in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

For 30 years, the National Center for Families Learning, with support from Toyota, has recognized educators advancing family engagement. Since 1997, Toyota Family Teacher of the Year winners, runners-up and their organizations have received a combined $755,000 to support 59 teacher-led projects.

Daugherty has been vocal about family engagement in her community. Earlier this year, she testified before state lawmakers about the importance of funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which serves nearly 700 children in McCreary County.