Kelly Short-Fuller, a science teacher at Churchland High School, was named the Portsmouth Public
Schools (PPS) 2026 Citywide Teacher of the Year. Short-Fuller received the honor at the division’s
Teacher of the Year celebration, which was held Tuesday night and highlighted all 22 teachers of the
year in PPS.
For the past 22 years, Short-Fuller has worked in the division. She serves as the science department
chair and leadership team member at Churchland, where she has been vital in her contributions to the
Health Science Academy. She is also a new teacher mentor at the school. Her passion, though, remains
in teaching her students.
“As a teacher, it is my responsibility to know who my learners are, what kinds of knowledge and
experience they bring to my classroom…I can provide the scaffolding they need to build connections
between what they already know and the new understandings they seek to create,” she wrote in her
application. “I want my students to know that they are valued members of our classroom community,
and I want to teach each of them what they need to continue to grow in my classroom… Students
should continue to embrace their curiosity, challenge themselves, and know that they are capable of
achieving great things. Each student brings unique strengths to our community, and together, we can
create a brighter future.”
Short-Fuller will now represent Portsmouth as she moves on to the regional competition.