Katie Andan, a fifth-grade teacher at La Costa Heights Elementary, is one of five educators named 2027 California Teacher of the Year. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced the selections Oct. 8 and nominated Andan to represent California in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The national winner is expected in spring 2027.

Andan's honor follows a classroom project that reached the state Capitol. According to the San Diego County Office of Education, one of her students noticed that peers in the school's moderate-to-severe special education program couldn't fully use their own playground. The class researched the problem, drafted a proposal and presented it to lawmakers in Sacramento. Their work became the Inclusive Playground Act, AB 2241, which was signed into law in September.

Andan has spent 12 of her 20 teaching years at La Costa Heights in the Encinitas Union School District. On the first day of school each year, she hands every student a pair of neon sunglasses labeled with words like "bias" and "perspective." She spends the rest of the year helping them widen that lens.

"Once a student walks through my door," she said, according to SDCOE, "they are an 'Andan kid' for life."

Andan first earned recognition as one of five San Diego County Teachers of the Year, announced in May. The county program, coordinated by the San Diego County Office of Education for more than 35 years, feeds into the state competition. California Department of Education (CDE) selection committees reviewed applications, evaluated classroom environments and teaching techniques, and interviewed candidates before Thurmond made the final selections.

Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza, San Diego County superintendent of schools, said in a statement that the educators "ensure our young people can truly thrive in school and in life."

The other four state honorees are Gagik Galfayan of Glendale Unified, Edmund Maino of Tehachapi Unified, Wendy Saldivar of Anaheim Elementary and Ashley Uraine of the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program. Two additional San Diego County Teachers of the Year, Mark Jeffers and Stacy Williams, were named state finalists.

Andan will compete against other state nominees for the national title, with results expected in spring 2027.