Preschool Teacher is First 2026 Riverside County Teacher of the Year

SAN JACINTO – Dozens of excited students gathered outside their preschool classrooms to blow bubbles and enjoy the morning sunshine and blue skies together at Edward Hyatt World Language Academy in the San Jacinto Unified School District on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Minutes later, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, arrived to surprise students and staff with the news that their teacher, Mr. Anthony Segura, had been named the first 2026 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.

Anthony teaches in a State Preschool Inclusion Class at Edward Hyatt World Language Elementary School in the San Jacinto Unified School District. His classroom consists of preschool students with a variety of abilities and needs—all of whom are learning at their own pace to build a foundation for learning.

“Anthony has all the qualities of an outstanding educator. He is passionate, dedicated, innovative, and community-focused,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, during the surprise visit. “His impact extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the lives of students, families, and all educators.”

“I would like to thank the students because I love all you guys,” Anthony said immediately following the surprise announcement. “I love coming to school and I feel like my job is not a job. I look forward to it and working with everybody in the community. This award is not about me, it’s about all of us.”

Three more 2026 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be revealed in upcoming surprise visits. Once named, all four teachers of the year will represent Riverside County in the 2026 California Teacher of the Year competition.

About Anthony Segura

Anthony Segura grew up with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and remembers the frustration and isolation from often being misunderstood and having his energy and distractibility mistaken for defiance instead of as signposts of a different way of learning.

Regardless of their learning style, students of all abilities in Anthony’s preschool inclusion classroom feel understood, valued, capable of success, and encouraged to build a love of learning through curiosity and exploration. Sing-alongs, freeze dances, kindness cards, and other engaging activities are part of the overall strategy to tailor instruction and collaborations with families and educators that build a foundation of learning for all students.

Anthony discovered his passion for education while volunteering to support adults with special education needs and after spending a transformative year working with high school students with special needs in China.

Beyond his classroom, Anthony has been active in policy work in early education, inclusive practices, and organizing fundraising drives. He also wrote and published a children’s picture book, Firefighter, Firefighter, Who Do You See? He enjoys mentoring aspiring educators to create more inclusive and effective classrooms that benefit all students.

Anthony has served as a classroom teacher since 2015, is a Global Learning Fellow with the National Education Association Foundation, and a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow with National Geographic. He previously served as a Teach Plus Policy Fellow, and earned the National Board Certification in Exceptional Needs.

Anthony earned his bachelor’s degree, teaching credential in early childhood special education, and his master’s degree, from California State University, Northridge. He is a resident of Menifee.

Recent Riverside County teachers selected as California Teachers of the Year include:

• 2025 – Robert (Bob) Mauger, Corona High School, Corona-Norco USD
• 2022 – Nichi Aviña, Cielo Vista Charter School, Palm Springs USD
• 2021 – Keisa Brown, University Heights Middle School, Riverside USD, and Allison Cyr, Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School, Desert Sands USD
• 2020 – Brenda Chavez-Barreras, Good Hope Elementary School, Perris ESD
• 2019 – Dr. Angel Mejico, El Cerrito Middle School, Corona-Norco USD
• 2018 – Dr. Brian McDaniel, Painted Hills Middle School, Palm Springs USD
• 2017 – Shaun Bunn, Ethan A. Chase Middle School, Romoland School District 
• 2016 – Michelle Cherland, Carrillo Ranch Elementary School, Desert Sands USD
• 2014 – Jessica Pack, James Workman Middle School, Palm Springs USD

The Riverside County Teachers of the Year are selected from nearly 20,000 educators in the county. The rigorous application process requires candidates to spend time reflecting on, and carefully defining, their teaching philosophy. The county teachers of the year are selected on the basis of nominations by teachers, principals, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where a selection committee reviews the applications of each district candidate and selects semi-finalists. The selection committee then conducts interviews and site visits to select the final four candidates before the county superintendent announces the Riverside County Teachers of the Year.