New Bedford Educator Named MA's Teacher Of The Year

NEW BEDFORD, MA — A New Bedford High English teacher is the 2020 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. State education officials announced Wednesday that Takeru Nagayoshi is the top educator in Massachusetts.

Nagayoshi is the 58th teacher to receive the award, which "recognizes excellence in teaching across the Commonwealth by selecting a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment and positive contributions of educators statewide," according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He will be the state's candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award.

"We are pleased to congratulate Mr. Nagayoshi on this award for his commitment to helping New Bedford students successfully tackle challenging Advanced Placement work," Gov. Charlie Baker said. "Teachers like Mr. Nagayoshi show students what is possible, and he is a great example of what educators and students are accomplishing together across the Commonwealth."

Nagayoshi is in his fifth year of teaching. He primarily teaches AP classes. His AP Seminar, more than 92 percent of students - all freshmen - earned qualifying scores of at least 3 out of 5.

Nagayoshi, a graduate of Brown and Boston University, also has coached and advised teachers in Lawrence and Philadelphia through Teach for America.

The other finalists for the aware were Kevin Dua of Cambridge Rindge & Latin, Marissa Gumas of Blake Middle School in Medfield and Kenney Pascarelli at Memorial Elementary School in Natick.