Kate Race began her teaching career in Heidelberg, Germany. Since then, she has followed her military husband’s career to teaching jobs in Kingsville, Texas, Fayetteville, North Carolina and back to Brian Race’s home state of Maine.

After 37 years in education, Kate Race is the 2026 Lincoln County Teacher of the Year. She teaches fifth grade at Edgecomb Eddy School. She credits the school staff, administration and outstanding community support for the honor.

“I think it’s great to represent this school. It’s one in a million,” she said. “This school should be recognized for everything going on: The teachers, kids, and test scores. The school produces well-rounded students and people.”

This is her third year at Edgecomb Eddy after being a school administrator for 17 years. Her previous plan was becoming a school superintendent. She changed her career path after the coronavirus pandemic ended.

She was concerned how social media had adversely impacted students and their self-worth. “I was struggling with the way education was going, and the impact social media had on kids. The focus was more on how one looked or how one was perceived,” she said.

Race also recounted an experience as principal with a middle school student over a cell phone. She took the phone away from the student, who was bullying another student. “I’m so glad that here at Edgecomb there is no phone from bell-to-bell,” she said. “After COVID, we saw behavior problems increase. Cell phones cause so much anxiety with students. The statistics for suicides among pre-teens went up astronomically. It’s just too much for kids to handle.”

After considering her career options, Race reflected on why she became an educator. “I wanted to build relationships with kids, not break them,” she said. So she contemplated returning to the classroom. Race had been in frequent contact with Tom Landberg, principal at Edgecomb Eddy. Landberg was her assistant principal at Sugg Middle School in Lisbon.

He told her Edgecomb Eddy had two openings, but they closed the next day. “He told me Edgecomb was a ‘little gem of a school.’ So I applied that night, and sent in my resume,” Race said.

When Edgecomb offered her the job, Race told them she was a “package deal.” At Medomak Middle School, she brought in her two dogs to interact with the staff and students. In 2022, Race received her doctorate in transformational leadership. She wrote her dissertation on the impact therapy dogs have on an elementary school setting.

At Medomak Middle School, she introduced her dog, Finney, and later Tilla for Finney Fridays and Tila Tuesdays. The Edgecomb School Committee agreed to amend its policies to allow therapy dogs. “I told them I couldn’t be here without my dogs. I really believe they change the school’s culture.”

In Edgecomb, she had Tilla, a 9-year-old border doodle, and Smudge, a 5-year-old border doodle, in her classroom. 

Race is still in the running for Maine Teacher of the Year. Another round of interviews will occur and Educate Maine will name the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year in October.