Teacher of the Year Finalist Beatriz Thomas was recently honored by health benefits company Wellpoint during their visit to Somerville High School.

Wellpoint, a health benefits company in Massachusetts, visited Somerville High School to honor social studies teacher Beatriz Thomas, a finalist for the 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Wellpoint awarded Thomas $5,000 to further enhance the educational experience for her students. She intends to use the grant to strengthen students’ transition from 8th to 9th grade.

During the visit, Wellpoint representatives met with a panel of students to discuss the impact and value of an engaging and supportive learning environment, and observed Thomas’s classroom, experiencing firsthand the dynamic, engaging learning environment she creates for her students.

“Wellpoint is proud to recognize Ms. Thomas as a finalist for the 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year,” said David Morales, general manager of Wellpoint. “Seeing the powerful connections she builds with her students and the learning environment she fosters was truly inspiring. At Wellpoint, we believe supporting educators is essential to strengthening our communities and advancing the overall well-being of students across the Commonwealth.”

This year marks the second year Wellpoint has sponsored the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year program, demonstrating the company’s commitment to recognizing the extraordinary contributions of educators across the state. In addition to honoring Ms. Thomas, Wellpoint recently gave a $10,000 grant to the 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, Dr. Tara Goodhue, the science department head at Lowell High School, and $5,000 to the other finalists, Sarah Costello, a first grade teacher at South Row Elementary in Chelmsford, and Thomas Simmons, a middle school English and history/social studies at Mario Umana Academy, a dual-language school that is part of the Boston Public Schools.