Frequently Asked Questions - Maine Teacher of the Year Program
MAINE TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to become Maine’s Teacher of the Year?
Any PK-12 teacher in a public or private school who holds State of Maine certification and is actively teaching students at least fifty percent of full-time employment.
What do you have to do to nominate a teacher?
Any teacher, parent, student, or community member may nominate a teacher by contacting the building principal who would convene a group of individuals to complete the nomination papers.
What does the teacher who is nominated need to do?
The teacher who is nominated must write a short paper on his/her philosophy around teaching and sign the nomination form.
What is a semi-finalist?
A semi-finalist is a teacher who has made the cut from nominee and will go on to complete the process.
What does a semi-finalist need to do?
A semi-finalist will have a full day visit at their school which includes conversations with parents, colleagues, administrators, students, a tour of the school and classroom observation. A professional portfolio must be developed in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year guidelines and a 20 minute oral presentation must be presented to a panel of judges. The average scores of these three events determine the state finalists. Semi-finalists are expected to participate in the program the following year.
What is the expectation of the state finalists?
State finalists are interviewed by a group of former Teachers of the Year who select a teacher who will best represent all teachers in Maine.
How does a teacher know if they are selected as the Maine Teacher of the Year?
Sometime in September, in a surprise all-school assembly, the Commissioner of Education will visit the winning teacher’s school to announce the Teacher of the Year.
What is expected of the Teacher of the Year through their reign?
The Teacher of the Year is expected to attend five National events: the initial gathering of all state Teachers of the Year in Dallas, Texas; a meeting in Washington, DC with the President; Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama; the “Next Steps” conference in Princeton, NJ; and the Digital Arts Storytelling Workshop in New York, NY. In addition, the Teacher of the Year can expect to participate in a variety of programs, sit on boards and associations, and participate as guest speaker for organizations. These can be of their own choosing and to fit their schedules. They can expect to be out of the classroom for all or part of 40 days of the school year.
What is the cost to the Teacher of the Year and the school system?
All costs incurred by the Teacher of the Year are paid by the Maine State Teacher of the Year Association which is funded by Hannaford Supermarkets. The school unit is expected to pay the costs of the Teacher of the Year classroom substitute.
What happens if a semi-finalist does not complete the process?
A semi-finalist who does not complete all three events will not receive the monetary reward or the gifts presented to the semi-finalists at the awards banquet held in the fall.
The Maine Teacher of the Year Program is generously sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets, and is a program of the Maine Department of Education, the Maine State Board of Education and the Maine State Teacher of the Year Association.
