Teachers from Donetsk Oblast became winners and laureates of the All-Ukrainian award for teachers "Morning Stars – 2026," which has been initiated by the RANOK publishing house for the third year in a row.
According to information from the RANOK publishing house, this year the award received a record 1,857 applications from all over Ukraine. Due to the large number of strong applications, the jury decided for the first time to select two winners in the main category, "Star Teacher." Both winners are from the Donetsk region.
The main prize was awarded to:
- Oksana Obidchenko, a teacher of Ukrainian language and literature at Volnovakha Secondary School No. 7 in the Volnovakha community. After the occupation of her hometown, she and her colleagues resumed the school's work in a remote format for children from temporarily occupied territories and abroad. The teacher developed her own method of literary therapy and an educational project to support children from occupied territories.
- Olena Trubchanina is a chemistry teacher at Lyceum No. 2 of the Pokrovsk City Council. Having lost her home and modern chemistry classroom, she moved her teaching to a digital format and created her own YouTube channel, where she promotes chemistry among students using a STEM approach.
Due to the large number of applications, the organizers expanded the list of additional and special nominations. Lyudmila Zvyagina, a teacher at Kramatorsk Secondary School No. 5, won in the "Teacher Support" category.
Valentina Sklyarova, a teacher at the Krasnohorivka branch of the Ocheretinsky Educational Complex in the Pokrovsky district, was recognized in the "Teacher of Generations" category.
Ella Danilina, a teacher at Selidiv Lyceum No. 1 of the Selidiv City Council in the Pokrovsk district, was recognized in the "Proactive Teacher" category.
The "Morning Stars" award recognizes educators who implement modern teaching methods, support students in difficult circumstances, and develop Ukrainian education. The stories of teachers in Donetsk region once again demonstrate the strength and dedication of the profession, even in wartime.