Teacher of the Year

Washington's Teacher of the Year program highlights a group of regional honorees and selects one of them as the representative as the Washington State Teacher of the Year nominating them for the National Teacher of the Year award.

Learn more about this year's honorees!

Nominate a teacher!
Nominations for the 2026 Teacher of the Year are now open!
Nominations close on March 2, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for Teacher of the Year?

Any certificated teacher is eligible if they are -

• Currently teaching.
• Serving in a position where at least 50% of their time is spent giving direct instruction to students in a classroom setting.
• Planning to continue teaching for at least two more years.

How do I nominate a teacher?

Nominate your teacher online using the Educator of the Year Nomination Form.

After the nomination is submitted, OSPI will send your nominee, their principal/supervisor, and their regional coordinator a copy of the nomination and a link to the online application.

How is the Teacher of the Year selected?

Washington's Educational Service Districts each select a Regional Teacher of the Year. The state selection committee chooses one of these Regional Teachers of the Year as the Washington State Teacher of the Year. The state committee uses the written application, interviews, and a short keynote, to decide which candidate best exemplifies the Teacher of the Year criteria:

• The teacher has the respect of their community.
• The teacher is knowledgeable in their field and guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence.
• The teacher collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success.
• The teacher deliberately connects the classroom and key stakeholders to foster a strong community at large.
• The teacher demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning.
• The teacher expresses themselves in an engaging way and effectively communicates about the classroom experience to a wide variety of audiences.

When is the Teacher of the Year selected?

The Regional Teachers of the Year are selected by the end of the current school year. The State Teacher of the Year is selected in mid-late summer or early fall. Regional honorees participate in a written application, virtual interviews, and a short keynote presentation. The State Superintendent announces the State Teacher of the Year late fall. 

How are Teachers of the Year Recognized?

State and Regional Teachers of the Year -

• Are recognized at the fall Award Ceremony.
• May attend a leadership retreat and have opportunities for continuing professional development throughout the year.
• Identify and advocate for educational issues of particular interest to them and are encouraged to speak or present in their region and around the state.

Additionally, the State Teacher of the Year -

• Represents the state at all required National Teacher of the Year events, including several national leadership conferences and the national recognition week in Washington, D.C.
• Serves as the Teacher-in-Residence for Washington's Teacher of the Year program January - June.
• Responds to and fulfills Teacher of the Year speaking requests and presentations and speaks to identified statewide concerns of interest to them.