HONORING THOSE WHO DO MORE
THAN ANYONE ELSE TO EDUCATE MAINE.
To honor and celebrate excellence in teaching and elevate the importance and impact of the teaching profession.
At Educate Maine, we believe the classroom teacher is the backbone of the American educational system. That is why we partner with the Maine Department of Education to administer and manage the Maine Teacher of the Year. The program honors the contributions and elevates the voice of Maine’s classroom teachers. The County and State Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors of the teaching profession, and advocates for quality education of Maine students.
The Maine Teacher of the Year program honors the contributions and elevates the voice of Maine’s classroom teachers. Maine selects 16 County Teachers of the Year, one of whom will be selected as the State Teacher of the Year. The State Teacher of the Year is Maine's nominee for National Teacher of the Year. The County and State Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors of the teaching profession, and advocates for quality education of Maine students.
Selecting a Teacher of the Year is meant to celebrate the thousands of outstanding professional educators in Maine schools, not to single out any individual as the best teacher in Maine.
Learn more about our program, meet the Maine Teachers of the Year, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and nominate a teacher today!
To be considered for County and State Teacher of the Year, a person must:
The Maine Teacher of the Year candidate has the respect and admiration of their colleagues and:
"This recognition is about my amazing students as much as it is about me. How lucky am I to get to be inspired by these hilarious, insightful, motivated, and empathetic humans every day? They make me want to be the best teacher I can be because they deserve it, and they demand it of me."
Joshua Chard teaches 2nd and 3rd grade students at East End Community School in Portland, ME.
“I’m extremely humbled and grateful for this recognition and, even more so, for the opportunity to work with inspiring colleagues, families, and students and for the guidance I’ve received throughout my career from so many in my community. The recognition I am receiving currently is only possible because of how much others have done, and continue to do, to support me and because I have the gift of working with incredible students.”
Matt Bernstein is a 9th grade humanities social studies teacher at Casco Bay High School in Portland, Maine.
"I am passionate about books. One of my favorite things to do is to match students with the right books for them. Books that offer them mirrors -- glimpses of themselves so that they feel seen, or windows -- a view of identities and experiences they might not live but can learn and grow from. Sharing these stories fosters empathy. Sharing stories opens doors. Sharing stories changes perspectives. Sharing stories affirms identities. Sharing stories shows us that we are never alone."
Kelsey Stoyanova teaches 8th grade students Language Arts and Writing at Reeds Brook Middle School in Hampden (RSU 22).
“I’m really overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions, but what I feel most is a deep sense of pride – pride in our school, pride in the learning community we have created together and pride in the fact that the reason I was selected as Maine Teacher of the Year stems from the work we have collectively accomplished across Portland schools together"
Cindy Soule is a 4th grade teacher at the Gerald E. Talbot Community School in Portland, Maine.
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Nominations open from January 1, 2025 to January 31, 2025 at 5 pm.
Whether you’re a student who’s learned from a great teacher, a colleague, administrator, parent or an interested member of the community, here’s your chance to recognize one of Maine’s classroom stars.
A PROGRAM OF
