For seven years, Jenna Love has been motivating, encouraging and educating students in the Elizabethtown Area School District. Now the Elizabethtown Area Middle School sixth-grade social studies teacher has been recognized for her efforts. Love competed in the 2026 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year awards. And while she did not take home the top honor, she did receive the Keystone Award of Excellence as one of 12 statewide finalists during a ceremony on Dec. 8.

Love was nominated for Teacher of the Year by a paraprofessional in her school who had spent time working with her in her classroom. She learned of the nomination in October of 2024, and after the third round of the competition, she discovered she was a finalist when an announcement was made by the governor's office in May of 2025.

"When I found out I was a finalist, I was thrilled, shocked and honored, all at once," Love recalled. "I decided to try and get as far as I could in the process to honor and thank the person who nominated me, but I truly wasn't sure how far I would get."

When the announcement was made that she had reached the finalist stage, she was overcome with emotion and could not wait to share it with her family, friends and students.

"I can remember my assistant principal covering my classroom for a few minutes so I could go to the office and call my family," she said. "It was a truly amazing moment that felt almost like a movie."

Love grew up in Delaware, but she spent a lot of time visiting her grandparents who lived in Lancaster County.

"I loved the rolling hills and farmland and decided to settle here after attending Elizabethtown College for my undergraduate degree," she said.

She spent the first two years of her teaching career at Bear Creek Intermediate School, where she taught English language arts and social studies, before moving to the middle school.

"One of the things I love about teaching is seeing my students light up and be excited about learning and about history," she commented. "There are moments where students are so excited to share their ideas or ask a question that they can barely raise their hand and stay seated - these are the moments that I live for as an educator."

When she's not teaching, Love, who lives in Elizabethtown, enjoys going for walks and hikes on local trails with her husband and their yellow Labrador. She also enjoys movie nights and is pursuing a second master's degree, so a lot of her free time is spent on her graduate school work.

Love said it was an honor not only to be nominated for Teacher of the Year, but also to compete against worthy peers.

"While I was recognized for this award, I don't see it as solely mine," she said. "It is a testament to all of the people in my life who have helped to shape me as an educator: my family, my friends, the incredible instructional coaches who have pushed me to grow and lead, and the colleagues who have become friends and mentors to me. This honor and recognition is theirs, too, and I am incredibly grateful for them."

She also expressed thanks to her students, both past and present, for continuing to cheer her on and believe in her during the process.

She truly loves what she does for a living, and she hopes others will consider becoming teachers.

"To encourage someone to pursue teaching as a career, I would tell them that the job they have in mind is more than just a career; it is a calling," she said. "As a teacher, you get to make magic in your classroom with your students and leave each day with the knowledge that you are actively shaping and impacting the future."

That's what makes teaching such a special profession, she said.

"While the work of educators can be challenging, it is so worth it," she stated. "Ultimately, when you close that classroom door, lives are changed, dreams are chased, and purposes are found - both for your students and for you as their teacher."

She emphasized that she does not take her job lightly, focusing on not only preparing her students for the future but also recognizing that the kids are the future.

"The days when I can see their curiosity blossom, their kindness shine and catch a glimpse of the feeling that they can change the world in their eyes are what keep me motivated as an educator," she said. "I consider the work that educators across our state do to be both hard work and heart work, and ultimately, it is the students and the powerful moments of joy, learning and connection that continue to motivate me and foster my passion for education."