The Teacher of the Year journey starts with YOUR NOMINATION!
Now, more than ever, we need to honor and recognize the great work of Maine teachers! Thank you to all of the students, colleagues, parents/guardians, community members, and Mainers who took the time to recognize the great work of an inspiring educator in their community!
The nomination window for 2025 County Teachers of the Year starts January 1, 2025. Who will you nominate?
Who Can Nominate?
Nominations will be accepted from students, parents, school administrators, colleagues, college faculty members, and associations (self-nominations and nominations from family members are not accepted).
Eligibility
To be considered for the County and Maine Teacher of the Year award, a person must:
- Have a minimum of five years 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 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 work day 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.
nominate a teacher in your county
We will accept nominations for the 2025 County Teachers of the Year from January 1-January 31, 2025. Who will you nominate?
nominate today!
Criteria for teacher of the year
The Maine Teacher of the Year candidate has the respect and admiration of their colleagues and:
- Is an expert in their field who advances growth for students of all backgrounds and abilities;
- Builds collaborative relationships with colleagues, students, and families to create a culture of equity and success;
- Deliberately connects the classroom to the community to impact student growth and learning;
- As a lifelong learner and teacher leader, they utilize innovation to create learning experiences within and beyond the classroom; and
- Expresses themselves in an engaging and clear way, conveying the lived classroom experience to a variety of audiences.
important Information For Candidates
You have been nominated for County Teacher of the Year...Congratulations!
Click the "Candidate Info" tab to learn more about the process, what is required, key deadlines, and what to expect.
To be considered for the recognition and continue on with the TOY process, teacher candidates must submit written material that is reviewed by County Selection Panels. Click here to view a detailed timeline.
Check out this video with the 2021 County Teachers of the Year. (5 minutes in they talk about their nominations and why they accepted the nominations).
