Each summer the transition of the Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ role is marked by the passing of a symbolic item. This moment signifies more than just a change to the next teacher. It reflects the passion, responsibility, and dedication that come with leading educators and students as they use the race in classrooms around the world. For the Iditarod Education Department, that symbolic item is a sleeping bag that holds one patch from every former Teacher on the Trail. As the outgoing Teacher on the Trail, today I was able to hand over the sleeping bag to Kari Wright. As I pass along the experience, care, and legacy of my time in the role, Kari accepts the sleeping bag as a promise to continue fostering the love of learning through the endless benefits of using the Iditarod in the classroom.
-Maggie Hamilton, 2025 Teacher on the Trail
I am so incredibly grateful to have been selected as the next Teacher on the Trail. I am honored that those teachers before me have faith in my abilities to carry on the traditions already set, as well as to bring my own new ideas and excitement. This title, along with all of its responsibilities, is truly a dream come true. I will do my very best to represent the Iditarod Education Department, the countless teachers following around the world, and the Iditarod itself with honor and integrity. I look forward to the adventure ahead!
– Kari Wright, 2026 Teacher on the Trail
