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Spencer County educator and University of the Cumberlands graduate brings project-based learning and community partnership to the national stage.
Kentucky Is Ready Again
“The last National Teacher of the Year from Kentucky was honored in 1984. The last finalist was named in 1997. Yet across our Commonwealth, innovative work in education is happening every day. It’s time to showcase Kentucky again.”
Michelle Gross, a two-time graduate of University of the Cumberlands and a 7th grade math teacher in Spencer County, Kentucky, is the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and one of five finalists for National Teacher of the Year.
A passionate advocate for project-based learning in Kentucky schools and a champion for community-connected classrooms, Gross now represents educators across the Commonwealth on both the state and national stage.
What Kentucky Teacher of the Year Means
Each year, hundreds of educators across Kentucky are nominated for Kentucky Teacher of the Year. During the 2026 selection process, Gross stood out among more than 700 candidates, earning the distinction of serving as the Commonwealth’s Ambassador of Education.
The role carries both honor and responsibility. As Kentucky Teacher of the Year, Gross participates in education policy discussions, keynote speaking engagements, and statewide advocacy efforts on behalf of teachers and students. To support this work, the Kentucky Department of Education provides a six-month sabbatical, allowing her to step into the ambassador role while a long-term substitute ensures continuity for her students.
Gross also joins a national cohort of other states’ Teachers of the Year. Their first orientation will take place at Google in California, where educators will collaborate, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches to student learning. Reflecting on the opportunity, Gross shared her excitement about “seeing education beyond the mountains of Kentucky.”
In March, she will travel to Washington, D.C., to interview as a National Teacher of the Year finalist. Her fellow finalists represent Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. If selected as America’s National Teacher of the Year, Gross would continue advocating for teachers and students, just on a much larger platform.
Inside the Classroom: The Dream Home Arama
While Gross engages in statewide and national initiatives, her heart remains firmly rooted in her classroom.
As a middle school math teacher in Spencer County, Kentucky, she is committed to project-based learning, an approach that helps students see the real-world application of what they are learning.
“My students don’t necessarily ask the question, ‘When am I ever going to use this?’ because I anticipate that and plan projects that illustrate exactly where it applies in real life,” she explained.
When students study ratios, they scale recipes in cooking projects. When they explore probability, they design and test carnival games.
The centerpiece of the year? Dream Home Arama.
Gross’s Students begin by researching homes on Zillow, then explore houseplans.com or homeplans.com to find blueprints that reflect their vision. From there, they draw those plans to scale on graph paper — carefully calculating dimensions, layout, and proportional relationships.
The project culminates in Dream Home Arama Day, when local contractors, realtors, interior designers, plumbers, and electricians visit the classroom to evaluate the students’ work.
“We invite anybody with a vested interest who is willing to come in and look at our kids’ designs and give them feedback,” Gross shared.
The result is more than a math project. Students develop durable skills like communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and public speaking while seeing a clear connection between classroom learning and their future careers.
“When our students start seeing the real-world connections,” Gross said, “they start envisioning their future.”
Aligning with Kentucky’s United We Learn Vision
Gross’s classroom approach closely mirrors Kentucky’s United We Learn vision, which emphasizes equity, collaboration, innovation, and real-world learning experiences that equip students with the skills and knowledge needed for future success.
Though she initially experienced a touch of imposter syndrome upon receiving the Kentucky Teacher of the Year call, that hesitation quickly faded.
“Turns out, what I find important is what Kentucky finds important,” she explained. “I’m passionate about dissolving traditional classroom walls by inviting professionals, community members, and former students to share their expertise. These opportunities help students picture their futures more vividly.”
Through speaking engagements and advocacy efforts, Gross now promotes project-based learning in Kentucky and champions the United We Learn vision, demonstrating how innovative, student-centered instruction moves education beyond test scores and toward long-term impact.
“I hope people see the importance of connection and community support in education,” she said. “When the community wraps itself around the school and the administration gives teachers greater autonomy to create vibrant learning opportunities, we all thrive.”
University of the Cumberlands Connection
“University of the Cumberlands shaped me in many ways beyond the classroom experience,” Gross shared.
A 2003 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in middle school math and English and a 2004 graduate with a Master of Arts as a Reading and Writing Specialist, Gross credits her education degree and teacher preparation program at University of the Cumberlands with laying the foundation for her professional journey.
At University of the Cumberlands, she strengthened her communication skills, which she now uses while delivering keynote addresses and participating in national interviews.
“I remember my first public speaking class,” she said. “I was scared to death of a three-to-five-minute speech. But, I was able to improve thanks to constructive feedback from professors and peers. Those experiences shaped me.”
Leadership opportunities as a Resident Assistant and dorm director further developed her confidence and ability to guide others, both qualities that now serve her as Kentucky’s Ambassador of Education.
Her graduate work in literacy also transformed her approach to teaching math.
“Every teacher is a literacy teacher,” Gross explained. “Being able to help students problem-solve and think critically through reading and writing made me a much stronger math teacher.”
Programs such as Appalachian Ministries and Mountain Outreach deepened her belief in educating the whole child.
“Through those experiences, I learned how important community is in the life of the whole child,” she said. “If a student has an emotional or physical need, that must be met first before learning can happen.”
“University of the Cumberlands was more than a school,” she reflected. “It was a community growing together.”
Showcasing Kentucky
As Gross prepares to represent Kentucky educators on the national stage, her focus remains clear.
“I want the world to see the innovative work Kentucky is doing in education,” she said. “The vision is that we create vibrant learning experiences for every student, encourage innovation, especially around assessment, and build a bold future for Kentucky schools through community collaboration.”
Beyond spotlighting statewide innovation, Gross hopes to honor the people who made her journey possible.
“I would have never been in this position without my students and community. I’m only thriving because of their support. They’ve shown up big for me, and I want to show up big for them.”
As she travels to Washington, D.C., as a National Teacher of the Year finalist, Michelle Gross carries with her the lessons learned in Spencer County classrooms and the foundation built at University of the Cumberlands.
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