2026-27 Teacher of the Year Application

Based on your nomination, you are invited to apply for the honor of 2026-27 Teacher of the Year in your Education Service District; finalists for Oregon Teacher of the Year will then be selected from amongst the regional winners.

We encourage you to watch this short video to learn more about what it means to be named Oregon Teacher of the Year.

We look forward to receiving your application. Please review the following important information before you click the “Start Your Application Now” button at the end.

• The selection committee will consider complete applications only.
• Please note that there is no “save and return” function in this online form, so your submission must be completed in one session. We recommend that you gather and prepare all information ahead of time (attachments, essay responses, etc.) You can fill in placeholder information for the required fields so you can click through and review the application, but make sure you don’t accidently hit “submit”!
• Complete applications are due no later than 5:00 PM on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
• During the summer of 2026, the Oregon Department of Education will notify four finalists and request interviews. In early fall, Regional Teachers of the Year across the state will be announced and awarded $1,000 each. Soon after, the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year will be awarded $10,000 as well as an additional $5,000 for their school.
• Please Note: To apply for Oregon Teacher of the Year, you must be planning to continue in active teaching status during the 2026-27 school year (not retiring, moving to an administrative position, or taking a job outside the classroom.)

Application Checklist:

• Demographic Information – Personal information; school type & location; ethnicity, age & gender identity (optional); subject area, grade level and years of teaching experience.
• School and District Information – School name, address and phone number; principal’s name and email; district superintendent’s name and email; number of students in the school.
• Resume – Education and degrees earned, teaching and employment history, professional activities, memberships and offices held, and any awards or other recognitions received.
• Letters of Support – Three letters from any of the following: superintendent, principal, colleague, student/former student, parent of student/former student, or civic leader. Length limited to one page per letter.
• Headshot – If selected, your photo will be sent statewide to media as well as published on the Teacher of the Year (TOY) website and used in promotional materials for the TOY Program. By completing this section, you agree that your headshot can be used in the aforementioned materials.
  • Best Practices:
    • Do not submit a selfie or crop your photo from the original
    • Ensure your photo is of just you, facing the camera, so you can clearly be seen and identified, torso on up
    • Ensure the background is simple and clutter-free
  • Photo Specifications:
    • Color
    • High-resolution
    • Portrait (vertical) orientation
    • Submit an original photo, not a photo of a photo or scanned photo
    • .jpg format preferred
• Three Essay Questions – We recommend you compose these responses in a separate word processing program (such as Word or Google Docs) and then copy and paste your text into the form.
• Signature Form – This form must be signed by you, your school principal, and the district superintendent. Electronic signatures are acceptable.

Additional Resources:

• • What Makes an Oregon Teacher of the Year

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please contact Michelle Goodness at Michelle.Goodness@ode.oregon.gov

Start Your Application!