Donate Contact Us
Donate Contact Us

Maine Teacher
of The Year

For Candidates

You have been nominated. Now what?

Information and Requirements

Congratulations on being nominated for County Teacher of the Year! 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 provides an overview of the program, process, requirements, and helpful materials.

If you have questions at any point, please reach out to Jon Delorme at jon@educatemaine.org. Your nomination email also includes information about “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 hear directly from legacy county and state Teachers of the Year who have been through the process. You may also find the MDOE YouTube page helpful, with past interviews with county and state honorees.

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

In 2013, the Maine Teacher of the Year program expanded to include the selection of sixteen County Teachers of the Year, with the first cohort announced in May 2014. County and state Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors for the teaching profession and advocates for quality education across Maine.

This program is committed to strengthening the education profession in Maine, building a network of highly effective teachers statewide, and providing a cohort-based professional development experience. It is about more than recognizing amazing teachers. It is about celebrating learning, students, schools, and communities, and highlighting the vital work educators do every day.

What are the requirements?

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

  • Have a minimum of five years of teaching experience, at least 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 career and technical education centers, adult education centers, public charter schools, or publicly supported secondary schools (private schools enrolling 60% or more publicly funded students, sometimes referred to as “town academies”).
  • Be actively teaching students for at least 50% of the workday at the time of nomination and throughout their year of recognition.
  • 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?

Teachers choose to opt into the process for many different personal and professional reasons. But do not just take our word for it. Watch this short video from our 2023 County Teacher of the Year cohort.

 

To be clear, this is both a rigorous and reflective process with an ambitious schedule. Even so, teachers who have gone through the program consistently describe it as a tremendous personal and professional development opportunity.

Candidates earn up to 15 contact hours for the county process, and those selected have the opportunity to:

    1. Join a growing network of teacher-leaders across Maine.
    2. Engage in personal and professional development in teaching and learning, communication and advocacy, and education policy and leadership.
    3. Serve as ambassadors for their students, schools, communities, and profession.

WHAT DOES THE PROCESS ENTAIL?

The selection process moves through a series of steps, beginning at the county level and progressing to the state level. Click here for a detailed timeline that includes links to materials, resources, exemplars, and scoring rubrics. 

County Teacher of the Year (CTOY) and Maine Teacher of the Year (MTOY) Timeline:

  • December to January: Nominations open.
  • February to March: Nominated teachers opt in or opt out. Those who opt in secure principal endorsement and complete their application.
  • April to May: Independent county selection committees review applications, conduct interviews, and select the County Teacher of the Year. The County Teacher of the Year’s year of recognition and service runs from May to May.
  • June to August: The State Review Panel reviews materials submitted by county honorees and selects eight semifinalists. Semifinalists participate in a Professional Portfolio Presentation Day, and the State Review Panel selects four state finalists.
  • September to October: The State Review Panel conducts site visits and final interviews, and selects the Maine Teacher of the Year.
  • October: The Maine Teacher of the Year is announced.

It may sound like a significant commitment, and it is. But every candidate is supported by a mentor experienced in the process and a network of exemplary educators in their county. This process is designed by teachers, for teachers, to create meaningful professional learning at every step.


NEWS AND UPDATES