Gipson will receive $1,000 for professional development and $1,000 for her school
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (April 13, 2026) — The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is pleased to announce Tammy M. Gipson, a middle school science, social studies and religion teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in McPherson, Kansas, has been selected to receive its 2026 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award at the middle school level. Gipson, sponsored by VFW Post 2715 and its Auxiliary in McPherson, was chosen for her desire to bring the world and history to life in her classroom, and for her dedication to teaching the value and importance of community service, military service and civic duty. From bringing in local military and veteran families to discuss the meaning of Veterans Day and putting up a “Veteran’s Wall of Fame” with students writing letters to veterans, to organizing mock elections and hosting a piece of the World Trade Center from 9/11 to ensure newer generations never forget, her work with her students and the community continues to push the bar higher for her peers.
With a strong focus on community service, her students participate in Meals on Wheels to give back to their local community, while also hosting various fundraisers, blood drives and volunteer opportunities for her students and their parents throughout the year.
“To be a VFW Teacher of the Year requires a special blend of heart, resourcefulness and deep-seated love of country, and teachers like Gipson represent the gold standard of education,” said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. “When instructors like Gipson inspire students through passionate, innovative and community-engaged teaching, not only do they embody the very best of the teaching profession, they also prove that education remains the cornerstone of a strong democracy.”
Established in 1999, the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award was co-sponsored by past VFW National Commander John Smart and retired VFW Quartermaster General Larry Maher to recognize three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teach Americanism and patriotism to their students.
Each of the three national recipients will be presented with a $1,000 award for professional development and $1,000 for their school during the 127th VFW National Convention in Reno, Nevada, July 25-29, 2026. Nominate a deserving teacher you know for the 2027 Teacher of the Year at vfw.org/TeacheroftheYear.
