Milan Institute instructor Lynnette Garrett wins 2026 N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year

Lynnette Garrett, an esthetics and massage therapy instructor at Milan Institute’s Bakersfield campus, was named the 2026 N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year at the Career Educators Alliance Conference in Anaheim. The honor highlights her impact on students and the role career educators play in building confidence as well as skills.

Why it matters: - The N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year is widely regarded as the top teaching honor in beauty and wellness education. - The award recognizes instructors whose leadership and student engagement measurably change lives. - Garrett’s win spotlights the value of career education beyond licensing and technical training. - The honor also underscores how instructors can shape student confidence, persistence and long-term career outcomes.

What happened: - Lynnette Garrett received the 2026 N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year award at the Career Educators Alliance Conference in Anaheim, California. - Milady and the American Association of Cosmetology Schools present the award annually. - Garrett teaches esthetics and massage therapy at Milan Institute’s Bakersfield campus. - Two of Garrett’s students drove four hours from Bakersfield to Anaheim with flowers and attended the ceremony. - Jean Rydahl, education director at Milan Institute, pointed to the students’ trip as evidence of Garrett’s impact.

The details: - Garrett started at Milan Institute as a student before becoming an instructor. - She earned her esthetics license at Milan Institute. - She later earned her massage therapy license at the school. - Garrett has taught for four years and seven months. - Garrett has taught hundreds of students, by her estimate. - Students and colleagues at the Bakersfield campus know Garrett as “Ms. Lynnette.” - Garrett said, “I don’t just teach skills, I help people discover confidence, purpose, and the courage to change their lives and someone else’s.” - Milan Institute says it has prepared students for careers in beauty, wellness, healthcare and the skilled trades for more than 40 years. - The school says its instructors teach technique, professionalism, self-belief and the expectation that students can achieve more than they first believe.

Between the lines: - Garrett’s path from student to instructor gives her a built-in connection to the challenges her students face. - The award reflects a broader view of teaching in career education, where confidence-building can matter as much as technical instruction. - The students’ four-hour drive suggests Garrett’s influence extends well beyond formal classroom work. - The recognition also points to the reputational role instructors play in career schools, where alumni outcomes often become part of the school’s story.

What's next: - Milan Institute’s Bakersfield community is celebrating Garrett with colleagues, students, alumni and industry partners. - Garrett’s award may further elevate the profile of Milan Institute’s Bakersfield campus within beauty and wellness education. - The honor positions Garrett as an example of the kind of educator the Cimaglia award is designed to recognize.

The bottom line: - Lynnette Garrett’s award shows how one instructor can influence both student outcomes and the culture of a career school.