Celebrating Extraordinary Educators: Honoring Our 2026 Above and Beyond Award Recipient

Elaine Birks-Mitchell awards Charlyn Morgan-Szabo the Barbara J. Birks Above and Beyond Award for Teachers.

At The Bra Recyclers and The Undie Chest, we believe the people who shape lives every day deserve to be celebrated.

That belief is at the heart of the Barbara J. Birks Above and Beyond Award for Teachers — an award created to honor the legacy of Barbara J. Birks, mother of founder Elaine Birks-Mitchell, who passed away on January 3, 2024, in Gilbert, Arizona.

“Dedicated teachers and school nurses have the power to shape the minds and hearts of our future leaders,” Elaine shared when the award was established. “With the Barbara J. Birks Above and Beyond Award for Teachers, we aim to recognize those who consistently demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their students’ growth and well-being.”

Teaching and school nursing are so much more than professions. They are callings rooted in compassion, patience, creativity, and care. Every day, educators step into classrooms and school offices carrying the responsibility of helping students feel safe, seen, encouraged, and capable of building a brighter future. That is why this award matters so deeply to us.

The Above and Beyond Award recognizes teachers and school nurses across all grade levels who consistently go beyond what is required to support students academically, emotionally, and personally. Through this recognition, we hope to celebrate the people whose impact often extends far beyond report cards and lesson plans. And this year, we are honored to announce that the 2026 Above and Beyond Award recipient is Charlyn Morgan-Szabo.

According to her colleagues, Charlyn embodies exactly what this award was created to honor.

At Shadow Mountain High School, Charlyn serves as an AP European History teacher, Yearbook Advisor, founding member of the DAAPS Humanities Program, and trusted mentor to students and staff alike. But throughout her nomination, one thing stood out over and over again: students know they can count on her.

Her classroom has become a safe place for students to breathe, regroup, and feel supported without judgment. In a time when so many young people are carrying emotional and mental burdens, Charlyn has intentionally created an environment where students feel cared for, heard, and respected.

One story shared in her nomination especially moved us.

Charlyn played a pivotal role in helping a former student from a profoundly disadvantaged background navigate the college application process and ultimately gain admission to Yale University. She created organizational systems to keep him on track, gathered a support team around him, and helped guide him through difficult emotional and financial decisions along the way. Today, that student is thriving in his third year at Yale.

That kind of impact changes the trajectory of a life.

Charlyn was recognized for her high standards in the classroom, her leadership as Yearbook Advisor, and the positive culture she helps create across campus. Whether she is mentoring students, supporting coworkers, or helping build morale within the school community, she leads with both excellence and heart.

While Charlyn is this year’s recipient, we also want to recognize the incredible nominees whose stories touched us deeply and reminded us how many extraordinary educators are making a difference every day.

Every nomination we receive is special to us.

Each story represents a teacher or school nurse who chose to care deeply, advocate fiercely, encourage consistently, and show up for students in ways that may never fully be measured. These educators are helping shape futures, restore confidence, and create environments where students can truly thrive.

The Undie Chest proudly sponsors the Barbara J. Birks Above and Beyond Award as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting Title 1 schools through our Everyone Deserves Underwear (E.D.U.) Program.

Through the E.D.U. Program, we partner with school administrators and school nurse associations to provide one of the most overlooked yet essential needs for students: underwear. By helping meet this basic need, we aim to boost self-esteem, restore dignity, and help students focus on building their future — not worrying about their wardrobe.

Because care matters. Support matters. And the educators who give so much of themselves to students matter too.

To every nominee this year: thank you for the lives you touch every day.

And to Charlyn Morgan, congratulations on being our 2026 Above and Beyond Award recipient. Your compassion, dedication, and impact truly embody what it means to go above and beyond.

Watch the Video Here

Join us as Elaine Birks-Mitchell honors the 2026 recipient of the Barbara J. Birks Above and Beyond Award for Teachers, Charlyn Morgan-Szabo. This award is proudly sponsored by The Undie Chest as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting students and Title 1 schools through the Everyone Deserves Underwear (E.D.U.) Program.