The Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) has selected Perry Gray, a teacher at Two Rock Elementary School, as the Sonoma County Teacher of the Month for February 2026.

Gray, who teaches 4th grade at the elementary school west of Petaluma and is the school’s longest tenured educator, was celebrated during an all-school assembly on Feb. 26. Representatives from SCOE and local radio stations, as well as Two Rock Union School District Superintendent/Principal Josh Wilson surprised Gray during the assembly.

The recognition, which honors exceptional public school teachers across Sonoma County, is organized by SCOE in partnership with local radio stations. The stations air ads that invite community members to submit nominations and celebrate the winning teacher.

Gray was selected after students, family members, and school staff countywide nominated their favorite teachers. His colleagues, in particular, expressed appreciation for his leadership on campus and his status as a strong role model on a campus where he is the only male teacher as well as the school’s longest tenured teacher.

“As the only male teacher on campus, Perry serves as a positive and consistent role model for students,” one colleague wrote. “The long-term impact of his work is evident in the strong relationships he has built with families and the many students and siblings he has taught over the years.”

For Gray, his selection as Teacher of the Month was an opportunity to highlight how much he appreciates his students and community.

“I want to call attention to our students and what a wonderful student and parent community that we have here, which is why I’ve been here for as many years as I have,” Gray said. “My favorite thing about being a teacher here in Sonoma County is the wonderful environment and community that we live in. So diverse. We’ve got town, we’ve got country, we’ve got the coast, we’ve got the city nearby … My special favorite thing about Two Rock is the unique mix of people from the Coast Guard base and the local ranches. You just don’t get a mix of people like that anywhere else but here.”

Two Rock superintendent/principal Josh Wilson, who joined the district over the summer, highlighted Gray’s professionalism and deep ties to his school community.

“Since my first day on this campus, Mr. Gray has been an invaluable resource not only to myself but to the Two Rock community,” Wilson said. “I steal all my best ideas from Mr. Gray, and he truly embodies what it means to be a Bobcat.”

Dr. Amie Carter, Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, whose office organizes the Teacher of the Month program, expressed gratitude for Gray’s leadership and steady presence in the lives of Two Rock’s young people.

“The past several years have seen so many disruptions and challenges in our public education system,” Carter said. “The wisdom, experience, and connection to the community that tenured educators like Mr. Gray have is essential to our students’ success.”

As the Teacher of the Month, Gray received a $500 classroom gift card sponsored by Community First Credit Union and a six-month family membership from the Sonoma County Family YMCA in Santa Rosa.

About the Teacher of the Month Promotion

Each month, SCOE reviews nominations in English and Spanish submitted through our website by students, families, and staff from Sonoma County’s public school districts and charters and selects one teacher to honor.

The Teacher of the Month program is a collaborative effort between the Sonoma County Office of Education, Froggy 92.9, Exitos 98.7, Latino 100.9, and Hot 101.7 radio stations and sponsors Community First Credit Union and Sonoma County Family YMCA.

To nominate an outstanding teacher for future consideration, learn more about the program, or read about past winners, click here.