Jefferson’s of Topeka is pleased to announce that Ann Wilhelm has been named Jefferson’s 2026 Topeka Teacher of the Year! Ms. Wilhelm teaches special education and life skills at Shawnee Heights High School, and has been teaching for 19 years. She also founded and teaches STARS (Soaring T-Birds Acquiring Radical Skills) at Shawnee Heights, a life skills and employment prep class for ages 18-21 to help students bridge the gap into adult living. In her teaching career, Ms. Wilhelm has taught a wide range of subjects, including math, science, English, health, and an array of pre-vocational classes.
Ms. Wilhelm was chosen from a highly competitive pool of nominations submitted by students and community members. The contest, launched in honor of National Teachers’ Day—today, May 5—aims to recognize one of Topeka’s many deserving educators. Jefferson’s selected Ms. Wilhelm as the Topeka Teacher of the Year for creating a robust and innovative program for her students that truly allows them to flourish.
“Ms. Wilhelm has looked well beyond the classroom to help her students grow personally and academically,” said Jefferson’s president Brandon Graham. “She creates opportunities for her kids to gain skills from real-world opportunities, where they work at the hospital and participate in community outreach through organizations like Meals on Wheels and Harvesters Food Bank. She also finds the time to organize alumni parties, and return from vacation with handpicked souvenirs for each of her students. Ms. Wilhelm embodies everything our communities value in their teachers and leaders, and we’re honored to recognize her for her dedication to the Topeka community.”
Wilhelm will receive a $500 gift card to Jefferson’s, and her achievement will be commemorated on the “Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year” plaque at the Topeka restaurant.
“Being a teacher is not just what I do—it’s who I am,” said Ms. Wilhelm in a statement. “I believe that learning is a lifelong process, and I strive to instill in my students the value of discovering something new each day. My role is to bring out the unique potential in every student and equip them with the skills they need to become as independent as possible. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is helping students accomplish things they once believed were beyond their reach and watching them grow in both skill and self-belief.”
Last year was the launch of the Teacher of the Year program, with Lauren Constantino, teacher at Berryton Elementary School, selected as Topeka’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.Â
This year is the sophomore run for the Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year award, launched as a companion program to Jefferson’s Coach of the Year award, which runs in the fall. The teachers’ initiative is open to teachers working with students of any age, and candidates could be nominated by students, parents and guardians of students, school officials, or other community members.