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Maine Teacher
of The Year

About Us

Honoring the educators who make a difference in classrooms across Maine.

We believe the classroom teacher is the backbone of the American educational system. The Maine Teacher of the Year program honors their contributions, elevates their voices, and celebrates the profound difference educators make in the lives of Maine students every day.

Our county and state Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors for the teaching profession and advocates for quality education across Maine.

Selecting a Teacher of the Year is not about singling out one individual as the best teacher in Maine. It is about celebrating the thousands of outstanding professional educators serving in Maine’s schools and recognizing that teacher recognition is a powerful accelerant for change.

About the Program

The National Teacher of the Year program was established in 1952 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to recognize the vital role teachers play in sustaining opportunity and possibility for all Americans. His vision was to honor the teaching profession as a whole by selecting a representative teacher from each state, culminating each year in the selection of a National Teacher of the Year.

Through a thorough selection process involving classroom teachers, school administrators, state officials, students, families, and business representatives, each state and U.S. territory nominates its own Teacher of the Year. The National Teacher of the Year is then chosen from among the state honorees by a national selection committee representing major education organizations, and is introduced to the American public by the President of the United States.

Our Objectives Are To: 

  1. Recognize and honor the contributions of Maine’s public classroom teachers across all levels and disciplines, including PK-12, Career and Technical Education, Special Education, Adult Education, and specialists.
  2. Elevate the impact of Maine’s educators, champion the importance of the profession, and inspire both current and future teachers.
  3. Build greater public awareness of Maine’s extraordinary teachers and showcase the meaningful work happening in schools across the state.
  4. Build a network of teacher leaders, amplify educator voices, and support the personal and professional development of teacher candidates.
  5. Contribute to ongoing efforts to grow, strengthen, and diversify Maine’s educator workforce.

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN MAINE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR?

  1. A commitment to excellence and to nurturing the achievement of every student.
  2. Exemplary skills recognized by students, colleagues, families, and the broader school community.

NEWS AND UPDATES