Recognizing inHub's Most Innovative Teachers: Announcing the 2026 Teacher Innovator Awardees

Every year, educators across the country go above and beyond to foster creativity and innovation in their classrooms. The Henry Ford’s Teacher Innovator Awards highlight these exceptional educators within the inHub community, celebrating their commitment to cultivating the next generation of creative thinkers.

“These awards recognize educators who intentionally create the conditions for innovation to thrive in their classrooms,” said Phil Grumm, Head of Learning & Engagement at The Henry Ford. “By removing barriers, sparking curiosity, and building the skills and confidence young people need to address real-world challenges, these educators play a critical role in ensuring that innovation is a possibility for every learner.”

We are pleased to announce and introduce our Teacher Innovator Award winners for 2026:

Douglas Haddad, Henry James Memorial School, Simsbury, Connecticut
7^th Grade Science Teacher

Over a nearly 26-year career in public schools, Douglas Haddad has designed learning experiences that mirror the real work of scientists and engineers. Using design thinking to make actionable solutions rooted in authentic local and global challenges, his lessons foster collaboration, empathy and shared ownership among his students while cultivating curiosity, respectful discourse and the value of continuous improvement.

Haddad views innovation as an equity practice — ensuring all students see themselves as innovators, problem-solvers and contributors. His classroom norms and values are rooted in inclusive, student-centered learning and The Henry Ford Model i Habits of an Innovator. Through this lens, Haddad encourages his students to challenge assumptions, take intellectual risks and view failure as essential to learning while preparing them for their future careers. In normalizing experimentation and feedback, his classroom stands out as a space where innovation is practiced daily and all students see themselves as capable problem-solvers.

Throughout his career, Haddad has been recognized for his outstanding teaching and leadership in education. Among his list of accolades, Haddad was named a 2023 State Finalist for the Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. He also was named the 2016-17 Simsbury Public Schools District Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the 2017 Connecticut Teacher of the Year. In addition to teaching in public schools, Haddad is also the author of the parenting book The Ultimate Guide to Raising Teens and Tweens and the STEM children’s book, Mya McLure, The Brave Science Girl: The Toad Cave.

Dr. Jamie Naragon, Maumee High School, Maumee, Ohio
9^th-12^th Grade Social Studies Teacher

For 23 years Dr. Jamie Naragon has demonstrated her passion for history and culture by bringing lessons to life in unique ways for her students. Over the past couple of years, she’s integrated resources from The Henry Ford’s inHub to provide students with hands-on experiences that support her own classroom norms of promoting a culture of curiosity, collaboration, empathy and perseverance. Through these lessons, students learn to value diverse perspectives and treat mistakes not as setbacks but as data for improvement.

Her dedication to fostering creativity and problem-solving bolsters her commitment to creating a classroom that shifts from “teacher gives answer” to “student explores question and builds solution.” According to Naragon, her classroom thrives on sustained inquiry, experimentation and iteration — making the journey as meaningful as the result. Recognized for her enthusiasm and passion for this work, Naragon serves as a district leader in Project-Based Learning (PBL) where she guides colleagues on the how-to and benefits of integrating PBL into the classroom. She emphasizes that we are all innovators and that every student has the capacity to ask, “What if...?” and learn to adapt.

Among her many achievements, Dr. Naragon was named a top ten finalist for the Bill of Rights Institute National Civics Teacher of the Year in 2025 and received the Golden Apple Award in the City of Maumee in 2023. She was also nominated for Ohio Teacher of the Year and for Teacher of the Year through the Gilder Lehrman Society of American History.

Lori Peel, Marshall Public Schools, Marshall, Missouri
3^rd-8^th Grade Gifted/Enrichment Instructor & STEM Facilitator

As the GATE/Enrichment Instructor for Marshall Public Schools, Lori Peel is responsible for the creation and implementation of gifted curriculum and enrichment programs for 2^nd-8^th graders, as well as serving as the Gifted Resource Teacher for high schoolers. She integrates a variety of current, innovative teaching strategies and resources — including The Henry Ford’s Model i, the Invention Convention curriculum and tools from the USPTO — to promote problem-based, student-centered learning with an emphasis on robotics, engineering, innovation and technology.

Her passion for providing opportunities for youth to practice and embrace innovation led to Peel being a key stakeholder in initiating programs like FIRST Robotics, implementing STEM rotations, establishing and overseeing the district’s Maker Lab and facilitating student participation in the Kansas City Invention Convention. For Peel, providing students with an opportunity to explore innovation has opened a world of possibilities for her rural Missouri students. She’s fostered a classroom environment where students feel safe to be creative, collaborate and take risks, and learn from their mistakes and successes while exploring all aspects of innovation. In creating these engaging learning environments, Peel believes the best part is working together as students explore how they can make a difference in the world.

Throughout her 21-year career, Peel has received local and national recognition for her dedication to this work. She was selected to participate in several programs led by the USPTO, including the Master Teacher of Invention Education program and the prestigious National Summer Teacher Institute in 2024. In 2023 she was named the FIRST LEGO League Coach of the Year, as well as the Marshall Public Schools/Spainhower Teacher of the Year and served as an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador from 2023-2025.

We are honored to present this year’s awards to such incredible educators. Our team is inspired by their commitment to empowering the next generation through innovation and invention education and we are thrilled to have these educators as part of the inHub and Invention Convention community.

Teacher Innovator Award winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2026 RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals on June 3-5, where they will have the opportunity to take part in student judging and receive their awards at the event’s ceremony on June 5. Winners also receive $3,000 for classroom supplies and a one-year membership to The Henry Ford.

For more information on The Henry Ford’s educational programs, learning tools and more, visit inhub.thehenryford.org.