Connecticut State Department of Education

Teacher of the Year

History

The Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program began in 1952 and is held every year to recognize and honor teacher excellence. The program is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Education in partnership with the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council. The Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council is a non-profit organization that works with the Connecticut State Department of Education on many of the responsibilities administering the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program. The Council conducts the rigorous selection process of reviewing all applications, conducting school site visits, and selecting semifinalists, finalists, and the Connecticut Teacher of the Year. The Council also coordinates annual educational forums and networking sessions for the selected cohort.

Each year, the process begins with school districts selecting a District Teacher of the Year through their local process. The District Teachers of the Year provide biographical and professional information in an online application to be considered for the Connecticut Teacher of the Year honor. Connecticut’s teacher is then eligible for consideration to become the National Teacher of the Year. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) Program began in 1952 and continues as the oldest national honors program that focuses on excellence in teaching. The NTOY is chosen from among the State Teachers of the Year by a National Selection Committee representing the major national education organizations. Four Connecticut teachers have had the honor of also serving as National Teachers of the Year. This year's timeline information is forthcoming.

Benefits

The Teacher of the Year program is designed to recognize educators who inspire a love for learning in their students and who have distinguished themselves in the profession. Local districts have found it is a way to select a teacher who represents excellence in the teaching profession. The selected finalist and semi-finalist cohort are also invited to participate in forums, conferences and networking events and to share their best practices in the classroom.

Criteria

Your District Teacher of the Year will only be considered as a candidate for the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program if s/he completes the entire application, which can be found in the registration portal. The candidate must work directly with students at least 50% of the time, and currently work under a Connecticut certificate with a teaching endorsement or a vocational teaching endorsement. You may review which certifications are eligible by checking the list of endorsements. If your candidate does not meet these requirements or chooses not to be considered as a candidate for the Connecticut Teacher of the Year award, s/he can still be honored at the annual recognition ceremony.. Local school districts may select candidates that do not meet these requirements, but those candidates will not be considered for the statewide honor. A District Teacher of the Year may also opt out from consideration for the statewide honor. It is important to remember that the local school district process must be viewed as fair and inclusive by teachers, administrators, and the public. Participating districts find that the Connecticut Teacher of the Year program has a positive impact and is a source of pride for the local community to recognize a teacher who exemplifies the good work of educators in the district.

The 2027 Connecticut Teacher of the Year application will be available soon.

Selection Process

Names of exemplary teachers are forwarded to superintendents from each school in the local districts. Superintendents or local selection committees, using a district developed process, select district teachers of the year. Each district teacher of the year is eligible to submit an application to the State Department of Education for consideration as Connecticut Teacher of the Year. The teachers’ application packets include biographical and professional information, essays on topics ranging from personal teaching philosophy to the issues facing public education, and letters of endorsement. Each application is reviewed by at least five members of a statewide selection committee representing the state's major educational organizations, former state teachers of the year, and community stakeholders. The review of applications identifies 12-15 semifinalists who are invited to make a formal presentation on a pre-assigned topic, and to respond to questions as part of an interview process. Finally, four finalists are visited at their schools, where selection committee members observe the teachers’ classes, interview colleagues, administrators, and students, as well as support staff, parents, and local board of education members. At the conclusion of the site visits, the selection committee meets and selects The Connecticut Teacher of the Year.

Awards/Recognition

All District Teachers of the Year, Semifinalists, Finalists and the Connecticut State Teacher of the Year are recognized individually at an awards ceremony each year. The State Teacher of the Year and other State Teachers of the Year are also recognized by the President at a White House reception, and are invited to a national conference. They also attend the Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Alabama, and the Education Commission of the States National Forum on Education Policy in Atlanta.

The 2027 Teacher of the Year Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 2, 2026 at the Bushnell Center for Performing Arts in Hartford, CT.

Duties of the Connecticut Teacher of the Year

The Connecticut Teacher of the Year and the three finalists serve as teacher-ambassadors for public education. They are appointed to various education advisory committees and can engage in work with the Commissioner of Education. They present workshops and speak at education conferences to address student, civic, university, and governmental groups. The Connecticut Teacher of the Year can also develop special programs in accordance with their interests and expertise to share in a variety of public forums. The Connecticut Teacher of the Year represents the state at the national level by participating in national educational forums, National Teacher of the Year Program planning and networking sessions, and U.S. Department of Education meetings.