AUGUSTA — Nominations are now open for the 2023 County Teachers of the Year and 2024 Teacher of the Year.

Members of the public are encouraged to nominate educators who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and who inspire the achievement of all students. County Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors for their students and the profession.

Nominations can be made through a nomination form on the Maine Teacher of the Year Website now through Feb. 5 at 5 p.m.

Nominations will be accepted from students, parents, caregivers, community members, school administrators, colleagues, college faculty members, and associations/organizations (self-nominations, and nominations from family members are not accepted).

The Maine Teacher of the Year program is committed to a nomination and selection process that ensures people of all backgrounds are represented. Educate Maine and the Maine Department of Education champion that commitment by encouraging the nomination of educators from all culturally diverse experiences and backgrounds.

To be considered for the County and Maine Teacher of the Year award, a person must:

Be a full-time, 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");

Hold the appropriate professional certification for their position

Be actively teaching students at least fifty percent of the work day at the time of nomination and during their year of recognition.

Have been teaching for a minimum of five years – three of which are in Maine

Remain teaching in the County for which they are selected during year of recognition

Maine’s County and State Teachers of the Year serve as advocates for teachers, students, and public education in Maine. They serve as advisors to the Department of Education and state-level education stakeholders across Maine.

Additionally, County and State Teachers of the Year join a cohort of teacher leaders that actively work together for the betterment of education in Maine. They also receive on-going professional learning and participate in many state and county leadership opportunities.

The 2023 County Teachers of the Year will be announced in May. The 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year will be selected from the 16 county honorees.

The field will be narrowed to eight semi-finalists, and then three state finalists before the Maine Teacher of the Year is announced by Maine’s Education Commissioner at a school assembly in the fall. Each year, State and County Teachers of the Year are honored at the annual Teacher of the Year Gala also held in the fall.