HUMAN

Name: Kari Wright
Age: 51
Residence: Osage, Iowa
Occupation: Third Grade Teacher

Years involved with Iditarod: 19 years

Iditarod Role: 2026 Teacher on the Trail

Current Location: Wild Birch Hotel, Iditarod HQ Anchorage

Date of Photo: March 5, 2026
Temperature: 68F, indoors

Question 1: What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod:

I first became involved with the Iditarod about 19 years ago. I read an article about the race and decided to share it with my classroom. They were so intrigued that we decided to just follow it that year. And then the next year, they got to pick a musher and we followed it, and it just slowly evolved from there, and has now become everything we do for about six weeks in the classroom.

Question 2: What is your Why? Why were you so involved with the Iditarod?

I’m here today involved with the Iditarod because I was fortunate enough to be chosen as this year’s 2026 Teacher on the Trail after a portfolio process being selected as a finalist, and then getting that great call that I was selected.

Question 3:  Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences.

 

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was meeting Martin Buser in person for the first time. He is absolutely legendary in my mind, and a man that is so humble, so funny, and just an incredible musher that puts his dogs for sportsmanship awards, humanitarian awards. That was just incredible to me.

What in life do you know for sure?:

 

What I know for sure in life is that you should always strive to do what is right, even when no one is looking. Integrity is what will take you through life in a positive way. When you look back on your life, you will always know that you had that, and to just love with all your heart.