Orlando educator wins 2026 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year

Dr. Nisha Phillip Malahoo of Orlando nonprofit Above & Beyond for Change has been named the 2026 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year and will receive a $20,000 grant to expand family-engagement work in Central Florida. The national honor highlights her school-community model ahead of recognition at the Families Learning Conference in San Antonio in November.

Why it matters: - The award brings national attention and new funding to family-engagement work in Central Florida. - The $20,000 grant is designed to expand local programs that connect schools, parents and community partners. - The recognition underscores a model that aims to improve learning outcomes for both children and adults.

What happened: - Dr. Nisha Phillip Malahoo, director of education programs and community engagement at Above & Beyond for Change and a former Pinewood Elementary School teacher, was named the 2026 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year. - Toyota and the National Center for Families Learning present the award through a longstanding partnership. - Malahoo was chosen from a national field of six state finalists from Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Rhode Island and Texas. - The honor includes a $20,000 grant for local family-engagement initiatives in the Orlando area.

The details: - Malahoo has spent more than a decade working with local families and schools. - Her programs have included family STEM and math nights, cultural celebrations, technology support for parents, and food and resource distributions. - Above & Beyond for Change was founded in 2020 in Orlando. - The nonprofit says it has served more than 1,000 students and families. - The organization says it has partnered with more than 25 local corporate and civic organizations. - The organization says it has invested more than $75,000 directly into opportunities for Orlando youth. - Malahoo said the award belongs to the broader community and reflects what can happen when families, educators and community partners work together. - More information about the nonprofit is available here. - NCFL has worked for more than 35 years to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families. - NCFL says its vision is to build coordinated family learning systems in 60 communities.

Between the lines: - The award validates a school-and-neighborhood approach that treats family engagement as part of student success, not an add-on. - The grant gives Above & Beyond for Change room to scale a community model that already has measurable reach in Orlando. - The national finalist pool suggests family learning is gaining wider attention as a strategy for education and economic mobility.

What's next: - Malahoo will be formally recognized at the annual Families Learning Conference on Nov. 8–11, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. - Above & Beyond for Change is likely to direct the new grant toward expanded family-engagement programs in Central Florida. - The nonprofit is inviting support for its local family-engagement work through its website.