Dr. Ferro has been named Idaho’s recipient of the 2026 Travelers Awards for Teaching Excellence by the NEA Foundation — adding to her growing list of statewide and national honors.
The Travelers Awards celebrate educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, leadership in the profession, and commitment to community. Dr. Ferro is one of just 48 educators nationwide to be selected this year.
Quote bySara A. Sneed , President and CEO of the NEA Foundation
Dr. Ferro teaches science at Syringa Middle School in Caldwell and serves on the Idaho Education Association’s Board of Directors. She is also an active member of the Caldwell Education Association.
“Melyssa’s accomplishments as an educator and member of this proud union are astonishing, so this recognition is not surprising,” said IEA President Layne McInelly. “But her spirit and dedication to her profession and colleagues reflect the values and commitment every IEA member brings to their work educating the young people of Idaho. A better representative of our members than Dr. Melyssa Ferro would be difficult to find.”
This isn’t the first time Dr. Ferro has been honored for her work. She was Idaho’s Teacher of the Year in 2016, the Idaho Education Technology Association’s Technology Educator of the Year in 2025, and a Women of the Year honoree by the Idaho Business Review in 2024. She has also been recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Idaho Middle Level Association.
The 2026 Travelers Awards honorees will be celebrated at the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala on February 13, 2026, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. Five awardees will receive the prestigious Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence, each with a $10,000 prize. One honoree will be chosen for the NEA Member Benefits Award, which carries a $25,000 prize.
Learn more about the awardees and the Gala at www.neafoundation.org.
