A Kennewick kindergarten teacher is Washington's 2027 Teacher of the Year

Kori Cannon has taught multilingual kindergartners from 22 countries over 16 years at Westgate Elementary. She was named State Teacher of the Year in Olympia and moves on to the national competition.

Verified · Source: NBC Right NowOct 12, 2026 · 1 min read

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An empty classroom with rows of wooden desks and a chalkboard — Illustrative photo of an empty classroom in the Netherlands. This is not Westgate Elementary, and Kori Cannon is not pictured. Onderwijsgek / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 NL

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Kori Cannon, a kindergarten teacher for multilingual learners at Westgate Elementary in Kennewick, is Washington's 2027 Teacher of the Year. NBC Right Now reported on Oct. 12, citing the state superintendent's office, that she was named at a ceremony in Olympia on Oct. 10 and will move on to the national competition.

Cannon has spent 16 years in the classroom and has taught children from 22 countries. She began as a substitute in the Kennewick School District in 2010 and became a full-time kindergarten teacher two years later. The state office said her work with families helped bring Westgate national recognition through a Johns Hopkins partnership network. The award is a title and a next contest. It is not a report card for the school.