The Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators is proud to announce Elsa Schmidt from Mid-Prairie High School as the outstanding Teacher Mentor for 2026. The IAAE Teacher Mentor Award Program is one initiative to address the teacher shortage issue. Statistics indicate that a large proportion of classroom teachers leave the teaching profession within their first five years of teaching. Beginning teachers are in desperate need of leadership and guidance during their induction years. If you ask agriculture teachers what motivated them to enter and stay in the teaching profession, predominately they will attribute their decision to another agriculture teacher who encouraged them. The IAAE Teacher Mentor Award was developed to recognize individuals who have answered the call to mentor fellow agricultural educators in our profession.  Schmidt has earned this honor in 2026 for her work encouraging, guiding and leading fellow agriculture teachers. She was recognized at the IAAE Conference Banquet this past week.