Nominations open for Arizona Teacher of the Year, $40,000 in prize money and other awards for winners - AZEdNews
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Nominations open for Arizona Teacher of the Year, $40,000 in prize money and other awards for winners

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Michelle Doherty, 2017 Arizona Teacher Of The Year, Poses With Students. (Photo Courtesy Of Arizona Education Foundation)

Awards Ceremony

Considered the “Oscars” of the teaching profession, the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards is a glorious celebration of Arizona educators! Each year, from hundreds of nominations, ten Arizona teachers are identified as finalists and semi-finalists for our state’s highest teaching profession honor. The Arizona Educational Foundation’s Arizona Teacher of the Year program is a component of CCSSO’s National Teacher of the Year Awards. The teacher selected as Arizona Teacher of the Year goes on to represent our state in consideration for the National Teacher of the Year title. To learn more about the Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony, including how to sponsor, click here.

Eligibility

Any full-time certified teacher working in Arizona at a state-accredited public school or school operating under the Bureau of Indian Education is eligible to apply.

Additionally, applicants must:

  • Spend the majority (over 50%) of their teaching assignment in direct instruction to students.
  • Teach any grade Pre-K-12th (or combination) in Arizona. Teachers may work in any content area, including Special Education, P.E., the Arts, etc.
  • Have completed at least six (6) full years as a classroom teacher at the time the application is submitted with the most recent three years in Arizona. Years of student teaching do not count toward the 6 year requirement.
  • Be a full-time teacher and plan to continue in an active teaching status through school year 2022-2023.
  • Not have been selected as an AEF™ Teacher of the Year, Semifinalist or Ambassador for Excellence in the past.
  • Be available to fulfill ambassadorial duties during the year of service and be supported by their employer.

Nominations

Nominations open for Arizona Teacher of the Year, $40,000 in prize money and other awards for winners FB-POST-TOY-take-time-to-nominate

Teachers may self-nominate, be nominated by a student, co-worker, administrator, school or district committee, friend or family member. Please note that submitting several nominations for the same teacher does NOT give them an advantage. To submit a nomination, please click the button below.

The deadline to nominate a teacher for the 2023 AEF Teacher of the Year® Award is April 29th, 2022.Click to Nominate a Teacher

Award Recipients

2022 RecipientsPrevious Recipients

Expectations

Step 1: Once a teacher is nominated, they are provided with a link to the online Arizona Teacher of the Year application. Teachers have until the specified deadline to submit the online application. Included with the application, teachers will also upload three letters of recommendation and a current resume.

Step 2: The Arizona Teacher of the Year selection panel reviews written applications and narrows them down to the top ten highest rated teachers for that year. The top ten teachers are notified and invited to participate in an in-person interview. Teachers not selected for that year, are encouraged to try again!

Step 3: If selected as one of the top ten, teachers will attend an in-person interview to meet and interact with the Arizona Teacher of the Year selection panel. Teachers will also be asked to deliver an impromptu speech and be expected to provide a video teaching demonstration.

Step 4: Following the in-person interviews, the top ten teachers will be notified of results. Five will be named “Ambassadors for Excellence” and five will be semi-finalists. All ten will be celebrated at the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards. The five Ambassadors will be considered finalists for the Teacher of the Year title, which will be revealed during the Awards.

Step 5: Due to the generosity of our amazing sponsors and partners, all ten teachers will be beneficiaries of various opportunities throughout the year. The individual ultimately named “Teacher of the Year” and the four Ambassadors engage in a “year of honor“with AEF. This year may include public appearances, speaking engagements, providing professional development, and serving on policy committees and task forces. The Ambassadors and Teacher of the Year are provided with professional speech and storytelling training.

Step 6: The individual named Arizona Teacher of the Year will have additional opportunities and responsibilities, both in Arizona and outside of the state as part of the National Teacher of the Year program.

Following their year of honor, Teachers of the Year and Ambassadors are encouraged to remain active in a “year of service” as participants in AEF’s work by serving on the Teacher of the Year selection panel; serving as a judge for the A+ Schools of Excellence program; and participating in the Arizona Chapter of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year.

timeline.

January – April: Nominations accepted.
June: Applications due.
August – September: Top Ten selected.
October: Teacher of the Year Awards!

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Nominations are accepted until April 29th, 2022.

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Teachers nominated must submit the Teacher of the Year application in order to be considered.

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Prize Package

Additionally, through the generosity of our donors, AEF is able to provide the following* for the top 10 nominated Teachers:

For the Arizona Teacher of the Year:

  • $15,000 cash
  • Arizona’s candidate for National Teacher of the Year
  • Travel to Washington D.C. to meet the President of the United States (pending each administration)
  • Travel to International Space Camp in Huntsville, AL
  • Travel to the National Teacher of the Year Program Induction**
  • Considered to receive Honorary Doctorate from NAU College of Education
  • AZ K12 Center Scholarship to pursue National Board Certification; Three (3) AZK12 Coaching Saturdays; Registration at One National Board Institute and National Board Workshop; Registration at annual Teacher Leadership Institute
  • Professional speech and media training
  • Special dinner provided by Fiesta Bowl Charities and on-field recognition at the Fiesta Bowl
  • Honored in the Fiesta Bowl Parade on the APS fire engine
  • One-year membership to Treasures 4 Teachers
  • $100 gift card from V.I.P. Mortgage
  • $150 gift card from Desert Financial
  • iPad and case from Desert Financial

For the four Ambassadors for Excellence:

  • $5,000 cash
  • AZK12 Center Scholarship to pursue National Board Certification; Three (3) AZK12 Coaching Saturdays; Registration at One National Board Institute and National Board Workshop; Registration at annual Teacher Leadership Institute
  • Special dinner provided by Fiesta Bowl Charities and on-field recognition at the Fiesta Bowl
  • Honored in the Fiesta Bowl Parade on the APS fire engine
  • Professional speech and media training
  • One-year membership to Treasures 4 Teachers
  • $100 gift card from V.I.P. Mortgage
  • iPad and case from Desert Financial

For the five Semi-finalists:

  • $1,000 cash
  • AZK12 Center Teacher Leadership Institute registration
  • Special dinner provided by Fiesta Bowl Charities and on-field recognition at the Fiesta Bowl
  • Honored in the Fiesta Bowl Parade on the APS fire engine
  • One-year membership to Treasures 4 Teachers
  • $100 gift card from V.I.P. Mortgage
  • iPad and case from Desert Financial
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