You have been nominated! Now what?

Information & Requirements for Teacher of the Year Nominees

Congratulations on being nominated for County Teacher of the Year!  If you received a nomination, that means that someone took the time to formally recognize the excellent work you do in your classroom and school community and the impact you have on students every day.  Thank you for your dedication and service to learners across Maine!

This page will provide an overview of the program, process, requirements, and helpful materials. 

If you have any questions along the way, please email dolly@educatemaine.orgThere is also information in your nomination email about the "So You've Been Nominated" Office Hours hosted by the Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association.  We encourage you to attend and talk to legacy County and State Teachers of the Year who have gone through this process about their experience!

what is the maine teacher of the year program?

The Maine Teacher of the Year Program is an annual formal recognition program that recognizes and honors outstanding educators in Maine.  It aims to celebrate the positive impact of teachers, showcase their dedication to education, and provide professional learning opportunities to develop teachers as leaders and advocates for education at the state level.  You may want to read our website's ABOUT section and check out the one-minute video below to learn more about the program.

What does it mean to be a county teacher of the year?

In 2013, the Maine Teacher of the Year Program expanded its recognition to include the selection of sixteen County Teachers of the Year. Our County and State Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors of the teaching profession and advocate for the quality education of Maine students.

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what are the eligibility requirements to be a county or state teacher of the year? 

To be considered for County and Maine State Teacher of the Year, a person must:

• Have a minimum of five years of teaching - three of which are in Maine;
• Hold the appropriate professional certification for their teaching position;
• Be a certified in good standing PK-12 teacher in a state-accredited public school, including a career and technical education and adult education center, a public charter school, or a publicly supported secondary school (a private school that enrolls 60 percent or more publicly funded students, sometimes referred to as "town academies");
• Be actively teaching students at least fifty percent of the workday at the time of nomination and during their year of recognition and
• Maintain their teaching position and remain in the County for which they are selected throughout the year of recognition.

why should i consider opting in to the selection process?

Teachers may choose to opt into the process for many different personal and professional reasons, but you do not have to take our word for it! Check out this short video below from our 2023 County Teacher of the Year Cohort!

To be clear, it is both a rigorous and reflective process, and the schedule is ambitious. However, teachers who have gone through the program report that the process is a tremendous personal and professional development opportunity. Teachers earn up to 15 contact hours for the County process and if selected have the opportunity to:

• Join a growing network of teacher leaders across the state
• Engage in personal and professional development related to teaching and learning, communication and advocacy, and education policy and leadership, and
• Serve as ambassadors for their students, schools, communities, and profession

What does the County and State Teacher of the Year selection process entail?

The selection process involves a series of steps, starting at the county level and progressing to the state level.  Check out our dynamic timeline below. When you click on a date, you’ll get more information about each process step. 

We have also created a detailed timeline (linked here) that includes links to materials, resources, and rubrics to help you prepare and submit your materials on schedule.

There are four distinct phases to the selection of the Maine Teacher of the Year, which are detailed below:

• Phase I: Selection of the sixteen County Teachers of the Year (Jan - May).
• Phase II: State Semi-finalists (up to eight) are named in June.
• Phase III: State Finalists (four) are named by the end of August.
• Phase IV: The Maine Teacher of the Year is named in October and begins their Year of Recognition in January.

Here are the next steps you’ll need to be aware of:

• Jan. 1 - Jan.31, 2025 - Nominations for County Teachers of the Year (CTOY) are accepted.
• Feb. 12, 2025 - 5:00 PM "So You've Been Nominated" Office Hour hosted by the Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association 
• TBD - 7:00 PM "So You've Been Nominated" Office Hour hosted by the Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association
• Feb. 24, 2025 - If you opt in you must prepare and submit your application materials by 5 pm.  Principal endorsement of candidate due by 5 pm on this date too.
• March 14, 2025 - County Semi-finalists are notified and will gather additional materials: three letters of recommendation, a resume, and one essay.
• March 28, 2025 -  County Semi-finalists materials due for final review by 5 pm.
• April 16 - April 30, 2025 : County Finalist interviews  
• May 2, 2025:  The 2025 County Teachers of the Year are notified 
• May 13, 2025: 2025 County Teacher of the Year Induction Dinner at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell
• May 14, 2025: The official announcement ceremony is at the State House Hall of Flags 
• The County Teacher of the Year 'year of service' is May-May.  

The CTOYs start their year of service and begin preparing for the State Teacher of the Year process. It may sound like a lot of work, but every candidate will have the support of a mentor experienced in the process, as well as a network of exemplary educators in your county. This process is designed by teachers to provide professional learning opportunities for the teachers who participate.