Brittany Forrette, an instructional coach in the Walnut Creek School District, was honored as the district's 2026-27 Teacher of the Year at Contra Costa County's 54th annual celebration Thursday, Sept. 17.

Forrette was one of 22 educators honored at the Teachers of the Year Dinner and Celebration at the Concord Hilton, Patch reported. The honorees represent more than 8,000 teachers across the county's school districts.

Based at Parkmead Elementary School, Forrette works across multiple Walnut Creek School District campuses as an instructional coach. The Contra Costa County Office of Education said she partners with teachers, supports students and leads professional learning. Forrette has worked in the district since 2010, first as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher before moving into the coaching role in 2022, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College of California.

The district serves about 3,600 students across seven schools. Parkmead Elementary enrolls roughly 478 in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Julee Henderson, a math teacher at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, earned the Acalanes Union High School District's Teacher of the Year honor. She was also one of four county-level finalists. Henderson has spent more than 33 years in math education, 17 of them at Acalanes High, where she has taught courses from Algebra 1 to Advanced Placement Calculus AB.

"School was my safe place when I was growing up," Henderson wrote in her application. "My teachers gave me a nurturing haven to learn and just be me, and in turn instilled a great love of learning and working well with others."

The other finalists were Evette Evers-Threatt of Pittsburg Unified School District, Stephanie Sado of Orinda Union School District and Rebecca St. Michel of Brentwood Union School District. Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey joined administrators and families to surprise three of the finalists in person. Henderson, who was out of town, got a phone call instead.

Two Mt. Diablo Unified School District teachers also earned honors: April Saldivar of Shore Acres Elementary School and Mary Acebu of Riverview Middle School. The Hercules High School Concert Choir performed during the event.

Stephanie Sado of Orinda Union School District and Rebecca St. Michel of Brentwood Union School District were named Contra Costa County’s 2026-27 Teachers of the Year and will advance to the California State Teacher of the Year competition. Julee Henderson of Acalanes Union High School District and Evette Evers-Threatt of Pittsburg Unified School District were the other two county finalists.