The first step in the Maine Teacher of the Year selection process is the nomination of an outstanding teacher by a Maine principal, superintendent, headmaster, curriculum coordinator, or educational director.  This rigorous selection process does not intend to single out any one teacher as the best teacher in Maine, but rather seeks an individual to represent all individuals working hard to improve education for Maine students. Teachers who are nominated will fill out an application with a short biography, a philosophy of teaching, and supporting letters of recommendation.  In March or April, all nominees will participate in a wonderful Hall of Flags ceremony in Augusta.  Here teachers meet with other nominees and share samples of student work and interesting initiatives happening within their classrooms.  Most exciting is the opportunity this provides for members of the legislature to meet and speak with teachers from all over the State of Maine. After this ceremony all applications are scored and 5-7 Regional Finalists are selected.

            Several weeks after the Hall of Flags, Regional Finalists are notified and school and classroom visits are scheduled.  These visits are an opportunity for schools, teachers, students, and communities to share the many wonderful things happening in their schools.  Along with classroom observations of the Regional Finalists, interviews are conducted with colleagues, present students and parents, and former students and parents.  When the classroom visits are complete, Regional Finalists are instructed to compile a professional portfolio.  Clear guidelines are provided so that teachers may showcase their classrooms, educational strategies, and personal style and creativity.  These portfolios are scored by a selection panel in late July.  In addition to the portfolios is the oral presentation component of the process.  This is truly a highlight of the process, whereby Regional Finalists present sample lessons and classroom instruction in front of an audience of fellow teachers and graduate education students.  At last, the classroom visit, the oral presentation, and the portfolio scores are tallied, and State Finalists are selected.  In early August, these State Finalists are invited for an interview by former Maine Teachers of the Year and that very day a Maine Teacher of the Year is selected, but it is kept top secret until the surprise announcement is made in early September.

            Indeed the process is rigorous, but extremely beneficial in encouraging true reflection about teaching and what truly drives excellence in the classroom.  The step by step pace prevents individuals from feeling overwhelmed and allows participants to focus their energies on one particular part of the process at a time.   Certainly, all school officials should strongly consider celebrating their entire school community by nominating a teacher committed to excellence in education.

Read the Maine D.O.E. nomination information

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