Lowell High School Science Department Head Wins Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Award

Tara Goodhue, head of the Lowell High School science department, has been named the 2025 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Goodhue is the first Massachusetts Teacher of the Year to come from the Lowell Public Schools. She is the 64th recipient of the award and becomes the state's automatic candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said that the award, “…annually recognizes excellence in teaching through the selection of a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment, and positive contributions of educators statewide.”

Goodhue told 7NEWS Boston that when she first learned her students had nominated her, she thought it was a prank. However, she quickly realized the potential this recognition could present.

“What makes her stand out is how personal she is with her students and how she's not afraid to connect with her students, compared to most teachers,” said Johnattan Khat, one of Goodhue's students, in a statement shared with 7NEWS Boston. 

According to a Boston Globe report, Lowell engages her students in various experiential learning opportunities. Her students have helped raise endangered baby turtles from local state forests and reintroduce them into the wild. In 2020, the National Association of Biology Teachers named her Environmental Educator of the Year.

In a written statement about her commitment to environmental education shared with 7NEWS Boston, Goodhue said, “My message to both educators and the public is simple: We must work together as partners to connect students with the natural world and the people who care for it. I'm committed to finding sustainable ways to connect community members, organizations, and schools to make outdoor learning a regular and enriching part of every student's education.”

Michael Fiato, head of Lowell High School, said Goodhue, who has 25 years of classroom experience and a doctorate in education for school leadership from UMass Lowell, is the right person to represent Massachusetts nationally.

According to the Boston Globe, 214 teachers were nominated for the title this year. Four finalists were selected and interviewed by a panel that included previous years' winners.