SELECTION PROCESS
Since 1969, the Texas State Teacher of the Year Program has honored excellence in classroom education and provided a forum to showcase many outstanding educators whose efforts and example have inspired their students, their colleagues and the communities they serve.
Every fall, the Texas State Teacher of the Year program honors two State Teachers of the Year — one in elementary education and one in secondary education — and Regional Teachers of the Year from each of the 20 Education Service Center regions. These educators become spokespeople for teachers in the state. They also serve as traveling ambassadors for public education with a schedule of speeches, workshops and presentations, while continuing to teach in the classroom. The program’s mission is to select outstanding classroom teachers who are also able to speak for, motivate, and exemplify the contributions of all teachers.
The state program is affiliated with the National Teacher of the Year Program, the oldest and most prestigious awards program to focus public attention on excellence in teaching. Texas’ final selection committee nominates one teacher to be considered for national honors. A selection committee representing the major national educational associations selects the National Teacher of the Year from the nominees submitted by the 50 states. Every spring, the National Teacher of the Year is announced by the President during a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House and is honored at special events in the nation’s capital. The National Teacher of the Year takes a year’s sabbatical from classroom instruction and serves as a roving ambassador for the teaching profession.
Tyler ISD has established a procedure to be used in the selection process for the Tyler ISD Teacher of the Year nominee from our District. Along with this selection process, detailed plans have been made to recognize the campus nominees and the winners at both elementary and secondary levels.
Each Campus Teacher of the Year will be recognized at the annual banquet and have an opportunity to be named District Teacher of the Year. The selection process includes two phases: the local campus and the district level. Each campus will submit one nominee to the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will interview each campus nominee and select the District Elementary Teacher of the Year and the District Secondary Teacher of the Year from these finalists.
Tyler ISD recognizes the excellence in teaching that exists at every campus through participation in the "Teacher of the Year" awards program. This program, aligned with the state and national level programs, honors outstanding public educators and is coordinated by the Department of Communications and Public Relations.