Tami Schoff, a 6th grade teacher at Marshwood Middle School, will be off to Alaska later this month, representing the state of Maine as one of three national finalists for the 2027 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail program.
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race – often called “The Last Great Race on Earth” – is an endurance race of nearly 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. If chosen, Schoff, a language arts teacher, will be the first teacher from Maine to represent her state in this great Alaskan adventure.
The winner will be announced in April after she and the two other finalists spend Feb. 28 to March 9 in Alaska completing the final steps in the interview process, Schoff said. This year’s Iditarod begins March 7 with the ceremonial start in Anchorage, followed by the official restart in Willow on March 8.
The iconic race draws teams of mushers and their 12 to 16 sled dogs that navigate remote wilderness across frozen rivers, mountain ranges and tundra, facing extreme weather while honoring Alaska’s history and sled dog traditions.
This year’s 39 teams include 27 male and 12 female mushers, 26 of them veterans of the race. It likely will take the first team nine to 12 days to cross the finish line in Nome, according to the Iditarod race center.
Perhaps the most exciting experience for the winning teacher will be observing each of the rest stops during the 2027 race. For the well-being of mushers and especially their dogs, most of them Alaskan Husky crossbreeds, each team must take at least three rests during the race: a 24-hour layover at any checkpoint on the trail; an eight-hour layover on the Yukon River; and an eight-hour stop at White Mountain. There are 26 official checkpoints where mushers must sign in.
It is at the rest stops the Teacher on the Trail will get a close look at the mushers’ priority: the care and comfort of their dogs. They provide straw bedding for warmth, wake up every couple of hours to feed and stretch the dogs, and protect their paws with booties.
Schoff’s interest in the race began 25 years ago when she was teaching a unit that required students to conduct research about adventures. She assigned students the classic young adult novel “Black Star, Bright Dawn” by Scott O’Dell, featuring Alaska and the Iditarod.
“Being named a finalist for Teacher on the Trail is an incredible honor,” said Schoff. “It’s been exciting through the years to see students so engaged as they connect classroom learning to a real-world event that highlights perseverance, teamwork and resilience. “
One year, she invited a sled dog “musher” to her classroom to talk to the students, heightening her interest in the sport and motivating her to read about the Teacher on the Trail program.
“I thought about applying then, but it wasn’t possible to leave my young children and put the time into the application process,” she said. “I’m so excited that this is finally happening.”
Schoff doesn’t have sled dogs of her own, but has volunteered for the last three years at the Portage, Maine, stop during the annual Can Am International Race held in March in Fort Kent. “I didn’t know about the [Can Am] race prior to 2023,” she said.
Each year, teachers from around the world apply for the prestigious Teacher on the Trail position through a rigorous, multi-stage selection process. It begins with a comprehensive portfolio submission due Dec. 1, which serves as a candidate’s “foot in the door,” said Heidi Early-Hersey, interim MSAD35 superintendent, when she announced Schoff’s selection to the School Board.
Schoff said the application process required her to showcase lessons, provide professional experiences relevant to the role, letters of support from school districts and administrators, a video submission, and detailed responses to situational questions designed to assess readiness for the responsibilities of the position.
Members of the Iditarod Education Committee based in Wasilla, Alaska, then ranked applicants and the top three advanced to the next round of the process.
During her visit to Alaska in several weeks, Schoff and the other finalists will work with members of the Iditarod Education Committee at the Educators Conference, and complete a series of hands-on assignments that reflect the responsibilities of the Teacher on the Trail. This stage allows finalists to demonstrate their ability to engage educators, communicate effectively, and bring the Iditarod experience to classrooms around the world.
As a finalist, Schoff has already begun integrating the Iditarod into the 6th grade curriculum at the Middle School. Students will learn about the race route, sled dog care and training, and explore the cultural significance of the race to Alaskan communities, according to Early-Hersey. Students also will use math, English and science skills as part of the curriculum, said Schoff.
The winner commits to a yearlong involvement in the program. After spending five weeks in Alaska before and during the 2027 race, the winner will return home to provide educational programs through the Iditarod website.
Schoff and the other finalists are paying their own way to Alaska this month, but if she wins, all her expenses for the year ahead will be paid by the Iditarod Education Committee.
Early-Hersey said Title II Teacher Development funds will be used to reimburse Schoff for this year’s trip to the conference.
Schoff has applied to both L.L. Bean and the Kittery Trading Post for sponsorship, she said, seeking assistance with appropriate attire and partnering with her in support of the educational program.
