Congratulations to Anne Noviki, 5th grade math teacher at Columbus Middle School on being named the 2026 Educator of the Year!

Announced during the CPS Employee Celebration, this honor recognizes Anne’s outstanding dedication to students, passion for education, and commitment to excellence at Columbus Public Schools.

Through her leadership, encouragement, and daily impact inside and outside of the classroom, Anne continues to inspire students to grow, achieve, and discover their potential. Her commitment to making a difference reflects the heart of what it means to be a Discoverer.

One nominator said, "Anne represents the gold standard of dedication, blending high academic expectations with an unmatched level of personal support for her students. In her classroom, mastery isn't just a goal — it's a guarantee. She has made it her personal mission that no student leaves fifth grade without a deep, functional understanding of fractions. Recognizing that this knowledge is a critical foundation for higher-level math, she refuses to let any child fall through the cracks."

Her work day doesn't end with the final bell. Every day you will find her after school providing one-on-one intervention for students who need more time. She then makes herself available online every evening to ensure her students have a lifeline as they work through their homework at home.

"As a Professional Learning Community leader, Anne balances the demands of leadership with her own continued growth. She approaches every training session as an opportunity to sharpen her craft, constantly seeking new strategies to better serve her classroom. This year, she has worked diligently on the fifth grade math pilot, putting in tremendous extra effort to ensure her entire team can educate students to the best of their abilities. Her colleagues describe her as someone who never ceases searching for, finding, and implementing new approaches to deepen her students' understanding of mathematics."

The CPS Foundation in partnership with One Nebraska Federal Credit Union is proud to celebrate and recognize educators like Anne who help shape the future of our schools and community.