National Teacher of the Year

The National Teacher of the Year is a professional award in the United States. The program began in 1952, as a project by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and aims to reward excellence in teaching. It is sponsored by ING.

Selection process

Every year, nominations are made by students, principals, teachers and administrators for the State Teacher of the Year awards. The profiles of the winners from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands and the Department of Defense Education Activity are submitted to a selection committee made up of representatives from each of the major education organizations. The committee then reviews the data for each candidate and selects four finalists. The winner is chosen from these finalists based on their biography, interview and eight essays they must submit. The President of the United States traditionally presents the award in the White House Rose Garden.

Although there are no clearly defined requirements, the committee looks for: The ability to inspire children from all backgrounds and abilities The respect of colleagues, students, and parents Activity in the community The ability to fulfill the duties of the award

Duties

The National Teacher of The Year spends a year away from their teaching duties to serve as a spokesman and advocate for the teaching profession. The teacher's state and district continue to pay his/her salary in this year. The arrangements for travel and speaking engagements during the recognition year are taken care of by the CCSSO.

Harassment and politics

Several state winners in the 2020s reported harassment, including death threats, for having pro-LGBT views or being gay. Two were forced to abdicate their responsibilities. Some states (like Georgia) require winners to be apolitical. Others look for candidates that support certain political positions, such as the Arkansas education reform law that limited classroom discussion of critical race theory and LGBT people, or anti-racism in Massachusetts.

Recipients 2025Ashlie CrossonEnglish Mifflin Country School District, Lewistown, Pennsylvania2024Missy TestermanEnglish as a second language (ESL) Rogersville City School, Rogersville, Tennessee2023Rebecka PetersonMathematicsUnion High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma2022 Kurt Russell HistoryOberlin Senior High School, Oberlin, Ohio2021Juliana UrtubeySpecial educationKermit R. Booker Sr. Innovative Elementary School, Las Vegas, Nevada2020Tabatha RosproyPreschool, Early LearningWinfield Early Learning Center, Winfield, Kansas2019Rodney RobinsonSocial Studies, HistoryVirgie Binford Education Center, Richmond, Virginia2018Mandy ManningEnglish, Language ArtsJoel E. Ferris High School, Spokane, Washington2017Sydney ChaffeeHumanitiesCodman Academy Charter Public School, Boston, Massachusetts2016Jahana HayesHistoryJohn F. Kennedy High School, Waterbury, Connecticut2015Shanna PeeplesEnglishPalo Duro High School, Amarillo, Texas2014Sean McCombEnglishPatapsco High School and Center for the Arts, Baltimore, Maryland2013Jeff CharbonneauChemistry, Physics, EngineeringZillah High School, Zillah, Washington2012Rebecca MieliwockiEnglishLuther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, California2011Michelle ShearerChemistryUrbana High School, Frederick, Maryland2010Sarah Brown WesslingEnglishJohnston High School, Johnston, Iowa2009Anthony MullenSpecial educationThe ARCH School, Greenwich, Connecticut2008Michael GeisenScienceCrook County Middle School, Prineville, Oregon2007Andrea PetersonMusicMonte Cristo Elementary School, Granite Falls, Washington2006Kimberly OliverKindergartenBroad Acres Elementary, Silver Spring, Maryland2005Jason KamrasMathematicsJohn Philip Sousa Middle School, Washington, D.C.2004Kathy MellorEnglish as a Second LanguageDavisville Middle School, North Kingstown, Rhode Island2003Betsy RogersElementary, 1-2 (looping)Leeds Elementary School, Jefferson County Public Schools, Birmingham, Alabama2002Chauncey VeatchSocial StudiesCoachella Valley High School, Thermal, California2001Michele FormanSocial StudiesMiddlebury Union High School, Middlebury, Vermont2000Marilyn Jachetti Whirry, Ph.D.EnglishMira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach, California1999Andy BaumgartnerKindergartenA. Brian Merry Elementary School, Augusta, Georgia1998Philip BiglerHumanities/HistoryThomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia1997Sharon M. DraperEnglish, Language ArtsWalnut Hills High School, Cincinnati, Ohio1996Mary Beth BlegenHistory, Humanities, WritingWorthington Senior High School, Worthington, Minnesota1995Elaine B. GriffinK-10 Self Contained ClassroomChiniak School, Chiniak, Alaska1994Sandra L. McBrayerSelf Contained ClassroomHomeless Outreach School, San Diego, California1993Tracey Leon BaileyScienceSatellite High School, Satellite Beach, Florida1992Thomas A. FlemingSpecial educationWashtenaw Intermediate School District, Ann Arbor, Michigan1991Rae Ellen McKeeRemedial ReadingSlanesville Elementary School, Slanesville, West Virginia1990Janis T. GabayEnglishJunipero Serra High School, San Diego, California1989Mary V. BicouvarisGovernment/International RelationsBethel High School, Hampton, Virginia1988Terry WeeksSocial StudiesCentral Middle School, Murfreesboro, Tennessee1987Donna H. OliverBiologyHugh M. Cummings High School, Burlington, North Carolina1986Guy R. DoudLanguage ArtsBrainerd Senior High School, Brainerd, Minnesota1985Therese Knecht DozierWorld HistoryIrmo High School, Columbia, South Carolina1984Sherleen S. SisneyHistory, Economics and Political ScienceBallard High School, Louisville, Kentucky1983LeRoy E. Hay, Ph.D.EnglishManchester High School, Manchester, Connecticut1982Bruce E. BrombacherMathematicsJones Junior High School, Upper Arlington, Ohio1981Jay SommerForeign LanguagesNew Rochelle High School, New Rochelle, New York1980Beverly J. BimesEnglishHazelwood East High School, St. Louis, Missouri1979Marilyn W. BlackElementary ArtBernice A. Ray School, Hanover, New Hampshire1978Elaine BarbourSixth GradeCoal Creek Elementary, Montrose, Colorado1977Myrra L. LeeSocial LivingHelix High School, La Mesa, California1976Ruby S. MurchisonSocial StudiesWashington Drive Junior High, Fayetteville, North Carolina1975Robert G. HeyerScienceJohanna Junior High School, St. Paul, Minnesota1974Vivian TomSocial StudiesLincoln High School, Yonkers, New York1973John A. EnsworthSixth GradeKenwood School, Bend, Oregon1972James M. RogersAmerican History and Black StudiesDurham High School, Durham, North Carolina1971Martha M. StringfellowFirst GradeLewisville Elementary, Chester County, South Carolina1970Johnnie T. DennisPhysics and Math AnalysisWalla Walla High School, Walla Walla, Washington1969Barbara GolemanLanguage ArtsMiami Jackson High School, Miami, Florida1968David E. GrafVocational Education and Industrial ArtsSandwich Community High School, Sandwich, Illinois1967Roger H. TenneyMusicOwatonna Junior Senior High School, Owatonna, Minnesota1966Mona W. DaytonFirst GradeWalter Douglas Elementary School, Tucson, Arizona1965Richard E. KlinckSixth GradeReed Street Elementary, Wheat Ridge, Colorado1964Lawana TroutEnglishCharles Page High School, Sand Springs, Oklahoma1963Elmon S. OusleySpeech, American GovernmentBellevue Senior High School, Bellevue, Washington1962Marjorie FrenchMathematicsTopeka High School, Topeka, Kansas1961Helen AdamsKindergartenCumberland Public School, Cumberland, Wisconsin1960Hazel B. DavenportFirst GradeCentral Elementary School, Beckley, West Virginia1959Edna DonleyMathematics and SpeechAlva High School, Alva, Oklahoma1958Jean Listebarger HumphreySecond GradeEdwards Elementary, Ames, Iowa1957(joint)Eugene G. BizzellSpeech, English and DebateA.N. McCallum High School, Austin, TexasMary F. SchwarzThird GradeBristol Elementary, Kansas City, Missouri1956Richard M. NelsonScienceFlathead County High School, Kalispell, Montana1955Margaret PerryFourth GradeMonmouth Elementary, Monmouth, Oregon1954Willard C. WiderbergSeventh GradeDeKalb Junior High School, DeKalb, Illinois1953Dorothy HamiltonSocial StudiesMilford High School, Milford, Connecticut1952Geraldine JonesFirst GradeHope Public School, Santa Barbara, California

References

External links National Teacher of the Year at CCSSO National State Teachers of the Year