Nominations accepted online through 5:00 pm on January 31, 2024

Nominations accepted online through 5:00 pm on Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Teacher notification - Educate Maine notifies nominated teachers who can “opt in or opt out” of the selection process.

For teachers who “opt-in” to the process – Teacher materials are due on Feb. 26, 2024, by 5:00 pm

Principals are notified of teachers in their building who have been nominated and recognized by someone in their school community for their work and impact.
Principal endorsement is required for teachers to move on in the process.

DEADLINE for PRINCIPAL TO ENDORSE TEACHER CANDIDACY: Monday, February 26, 2024 by 5:00 pm

Materials:
A. Complete the Principal Endorsement Form. (Note: If the teacher candidate is endorsed by the principal and is selected as a County Semifinalist, the principal will be asked to write a letter of recommendation for that candidate.)
B. Provide school contact information
C. Answer the question, “Is there anything in this person’s background or professional practice that indicates that this educator shouldn’t be held as an example of a teacher leader in our state and the nation and should not receive public accolades as an educator and role model?”

County Selection Teams - Review #1 - February 28 - March 15, 2024
• Review materials
• Select County Semi-finalists – Recommend: no more than 10 County Semi-finalists per county – by March 15, 2024

County Semi-Finalists - March 15 – March 29, 2024
• County Semi-finalists will be notified that they are moving on in the process and receive directions for the next round.

• DEADLINE for County Semi-finalists materials: Friday, March 29, 2024, by 5:00 pm

Those who submit this information, but are not selected as the
County Teacher of the Year, receive 10 Contact Hours.

County Selection Teams - Review #2 – April 1 - April 12, 2024

• Review materials
• The Department of Education confirms appropriate certification
• Select County Finalists – Recommend: no more than 3 County Finalists per county
• Schedule interviews

County Finalists & County Selection Teams – Interviews – April 22-26, 2024

• County Finalists will be notified that they are moving on in the process and receive instructions and dates for final interviews. (Note: The interviews will tentatively be scheduled on the afternoons of April 22-24, not during April break.)
• Interview County Finalists (in person or remotely)
• Select County Teacher of the Year
• Inform Educate Maine of the selection by April 25, 2024

COUNTY TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

• CTOY Notification – Friday, April 26, 2024
• Start planning for the CTOY Announcement

2024 County Teacher of the Year Announcement

May 8, 2024 – 2023 County Teacher of the Year Induction Dinner and Program
May 9, 2024 – Professional Development (morning) and State House Hall of Flags Announcement

County TOYs receive an additional 5 Contact Hours for a total of 15 Contact Hours

County Teacher of the Year Cohort PD Session - June 20, 2024
• Opportunity to network, plan their year of service, professional development - CTOY Cohort Platform discussion, etc.

Classroom Instruction Video - Due June 3, 2024
• CTOYs prepare and submit an 8- to 10-minute classroom teaching video

• Date stamped or a video attestation (form supplied)
• Write a one-page reflection paper - highlighting one strength in the video and one thing you would change and why.

State Review Panel (Selection Team) - REVIEW #1 – June 17, 2024
• Review and score videos; select State Teacher of the Year Semi-finalists (no more than 8)

• State Semi-finalists will be notified on June 21, 2024

Oral Presentations (July 23, 2024 - location TBA)
• The purpose of the Oral Presentation is to establish the speaker’s ability to express their ideas with conviction and poise. This provides a “level playing field” for each semi-finalist.
• Mock Keynote: Each semi-finalist will make a formal 7-8-minute “Mock Keynote” on a topic of their choice
• Expert Panel: teachers will respond to unannounced questions from the audience – Education Equity, Policy, and Teacher Leadership.
• The Mock Keynote and Expert Panel will be scored by members of the State Review Panel.

Portfolio Part 1 (Submitted at Presentations) - On the day of the Oral Presentations, each semi-finalist will submit a PORTFOLIO with the following
information:
A. Basic Information (Name, address, school and district information, etc.)
B. Demographic Information
C. Professional Associations
D. Resume
E. And response to two questions:

1. How do you ensure that education transcends the classroom? Describe specific ways in which you deliberately connect your students with the community. How did you collaborate with others (e.g. colleagues, students, families) in this work? Please include evidence of student impact. (max 750 words)

2. Describe a time when you grew as a teacher leader and life-long learner as a result of being an advocate in your school, state, or beyond. Describe your advocacy, how it helped you grow and how it impacted students. (max 750 words)

Additional Contact Hours: 15 - for a total of 30 contact hours.

State Review Panel – Portfolio - REVIEW #2 – July 24 - August 9, 2024
• The portfolios will be scored by members of the State Review Panel and combined with the scores from the Oral Presentations; no more than 4 State Finalists will be selected based on the combined numerical ratings.

• Scores are due to Educate Maine by Friday, August 9, 2024

State Finalists
• State Finalist notification - August 13, 2024
• Send materials for site visits – August 14, 2024

School Site Visits - September 12 - 20, 2024
• State Finalists are visited at their schools, where State Review Panel members will observe the teachers’ classrooms, and interview colleagues, administrators, students, support staff, parents, and local board of education members. A sample agenda will be provided for the school principal for planning purposes.

Final Interviews - September 24th OR 25th, 2024
(after school site visits complete)
• State Finalists are interviewed by a group consisting of members of the State Review Panel, the Teacher of the Year program coordinator, legacy Teachers of the Year, and the Commissioner of Education.

The numerical ratings/scoring from the interviews and school site visits will be combined. This information is used to inform the discussion and final selection. The State Review Panel will come to a consensus and put forth one candidate to the Commissioner of Education to be named the 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year. The Commissioner of Education must approve the final selection.

Contact Hours: 15 additional contact hours awarded (total of 45 for State Finalists)

Announcement of 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year
• Announcement of the 2025 Teacher of the Year should be completed by October 18th to allow time for the completion of the National Teacher of the Year application.

Official Year of Recognition Begins - January 1, 2025
• The first year is considered a “year of recognition.” During this year, the TOY will focus on being a forward-facing representative of education. Maine’s Teachers of the Year remain in their classrooms and districts throughout the year while actively serving as a representative of public education. They engage in ongoing professional development as a cohort with the CTOY, and engage in many local and statewide activities. They are frequently asked to speak at conferences or events, and each teacher designs his or her year of experience based on their interests, passion areas, experiences, expertise and content areas.

There are six national events that the Maine Teacher of the Year is expected to participate.
• Teacher of the Year Induction Conference - February 2025
Each year all the State Teachers of the Year meet to learn from each other and from experts on ways to improve and strengthen the role of Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year Induction annual conference is typically held in early February. The names of the four National Teacher of the Year finalists will be made public in early January, and they will be introduced at the banquet during the conference.

• Washington, DC Recognition - State Teachers of the Year - Early May
In all years of the Program, the President has introduced the National Teacher to the American people. In recent years, the President has invited the State Teachers of the Year to join in the Washington recognition. In past years, the Washington recognition has taken place during Teacher Appreciation Week in late April or early May. The exact dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.

• International Space Camp - July
Another exciting opportunity for the State Teacher of the Year is International Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This camp, attended by the National Teacher and State Teachers of the Year, as well as teachers and students from over twenty countries, will allow you to learn about space technology in a supercharged atmosphere of excitement with colleagues from around the nation and the world. Space Camp is in July.

• Impact and Influence Conference. October (Princeton, New Jersey )

• College Football National Playoff Game – January 2026
Hosted by College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers

Years of Service
After the “year of recognition”, the Teacher of the Year enters the “years of service in which their tasks become much more service-oriented. Activities include serving on the Educate Maine Board of Directors, providing policy guidance and feedback; leading local, regional, or statewide educational initiatives; public speaking; designing and leading professional development; acting as an advocate on key issues and topics; engaging with the Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association.