Is Katie Whittaker “America’s Favorite Teacher?”
It’s possible, and you can help make it true.
Whittaker, a Red Hook High School science teacher and meteorologist, is taking part in the “America’s Favorite Teacher” online competition, which recognizes the educators who go above and beyond to inspire and empower the next generation. Visit her page at americasfavteacher.org/2026/katie-whittaker
More than an online popularity contest with prizes – potentially both for Whittaker and the school – the Colossal-run competition is a fundraiser for The Planetary Society, the world's largest nonprofit space organization. Accordingly, one of the perks for the winning teacher would be a school assembly with Bill Nye “The Science Guy.”
Other prizes for the winning teacher include $25,000, a trip to Hawaii and a feature in Reader’s Digest.
And, Whittaker’s doing pretty good so far. What started as a group of roughly 60,000 contestants is now down to about 600, and Whittaker’s among them. She is poised to advance through the current round of voting, which ends 10 p.m. tonight, April 16. Then, she would be one round away from the finals.
“What started as something small has turned into a really positive and engaging experience for my students,” she said. “I mentioned the contest to the class after showing a Bill Nye video related to our content, and they became incredibly excited and eager to support it. It’s been a fun way to build community and enthusiasm in the classroom.”
You can vote for her at americasfavteacher.org/2026/katie-whittaker. Everyone can vote once a day for free or, more votes can be bought through donating to The Planetary Society on the voting page.
Whittaker has been at Red Hook High School since 2013. In addition to Meteorology she teaches, fittingly, Earth and Space Science. She became a teacher, she said, to make an impact.
“Every day in the classroom is unpredictable — sometimes stressful, but always incredibly exciting. Helping students decode the world around them is an amazing privilege,” she said.
Among other plans – paying off bills, donating to animal rescues and parks and paying for a honeymoon trip – Whittaker said she would use the prize money to throw a classroom party and a field trip.
She said her students’ “excitement for that and for potentially having the chance to meet Bill Nye is what is keeping me working hard to stay in this competition!”