EASTVALE – On the morning of Friday, May 23, Lisa Moe followed her principal down the hallway of Philistine Rondo School of Discovery to help investigate what she was led to believe was a graffiti incident in a student restroom. Once she stepped outside, she was met by hundreds of students holding handwritten signs of congratulations, along with excited colleagues and family members who joined in on the surprise announcement that she had been named the final 2026 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.

Amidst the crowd chanting her name, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez and leaders from the Corona-Norco Unified School District, ushered the surprised teacher to the front to accept her award as the fourth and final 2026 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.

“Teaching is the most powerful career in the entire world, and teachers make a difference every single day. They work with our most precious assets in society, and that is our students,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, during the surprise visit. “Lisa really focuses on student-centered learning, where students are coding, designing adaptive toys for children with disabilities, or they're working on transforming ancient history into immersive Olympiads. In her classroom, every learner is celebrated for who they are, and they're challenged to become more.”

“I'm in shock right now. I can't even begin to say thank you all so much for all of this,” Lisa Moe said to the assembled crowd immediately following the surprise announcement. “What is considered a job, is not a job for me. It's truly a dream come true and a passion I show up for every single day.”

Earlier in May, surprise visits revealed the first three teachers of the year. All four county teachers of the year will represent Riverside County later this year in the competition to be named the 2026 California Teacher of the Year.

About Lisa Moe

Lisa Moe’s very first classroom was in a pool as a lifeguard and swim instructor with the City of Corona where she realized that teaching is far more than imparting knowledge. As she witnessed children transition from fear of the water to confidence in their abilities, she learned that being a teacher is about building belief, trust, and empowerment.

Now, Lisa Moe teaches 6^th grade at the Philistine Rondo School of Discovery in Eastvale. She is completing her 8th year of teaching, and her 3^rd year in the Corona-Norco Unified School District. She describes her classroom as “a space of joy, discovery, and boundless creativity where labels don’t exist, every student’s unique strengths are celebrated, and learning is a shared adventure.”

In her classroom, Lisa has created a learning environment that extends beyond academics and is rooted in project-based learning, educational technology, connection, and self-confidence, where every student feels seen and valued.

Beyond the classroom, Lisa is a keynote speaker and presenter at educational technology conferences, a STEM and digital literacy professional development trainer, and a school-site GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) coordinator. Her work has been highlighted on the NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, CBS’s Mission: Unstoppable, and she is the co-host of the Computer Science Teachers Association’s One Voice in Computer Science podcast.

Lisa earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from University of California, Los Angeles, a master’s degree in teaching and multiple subject teaching credential from University of California, Irvine, and a master’s degree in educational technology from California State University, Fullerton. She is a resident of Corona.

Recent Riverside County teachers selected as California Teachers of the Year include:

• 2025 – Robert (Bob) Mauger, Corona High School, Corona-Norco USD
• 2022 – Nichi Aviña, Cielo Vista Charter School, Palm Springs USD
• 2021 – Keisa Brown, University Heights Middle School, Riverside USD, and Allison Cyr, Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School, Desert Sands USD
• 2020 – Brenda Chavez-Barreras, Good Hope Elementary School, Perris ESD
• 2019 – Dr. Angel Mejico, El Cerrito Middle School, Corona-Norco USD
• 2018 – Dr. Brian McDaniel, Painted Hills Middle School, Palm Springs USD
• 2017 – Shaun Bunn, Ethan A. Chase Middle School, Romoland School District 
• 2016 – Michelle Cherland, Carrillo Ranch Elementary School, Desert Sands USD
• 2014 – Jessica Pack, James Workman Middle School, Palm Springs USD

The Riverside County Teachers of the Year are selected from nearly 20,000 educators in the county. The rigorous application process requires candidates to spend time reflecting on, and carefully defining, their teaching philosophy. The county teachers of the year are selected on the basis of nominations by teachers, principals, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where a selection committee reviews the applications of each district candidate and selects semi-finalists. The selection committee then conducts interviews and site visits to select the final four candidates before the county superintendent announces the Riverside County Teachers of the Year.