Missouri Teacher of the Year Program
The Missouri Teacher of the Year program is conducted annually by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year program. Major funding for Missouri’s program is provided by The Boeing Company, St. Louis.
The National Teacher of the Year program is the oldest, most prestigious national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching. The national program, sponsored by ING Foundation, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers. Missouri has had two national winners since the inception of the program in 1952.
Any full-time teacher (pre-kindergarten through grade 12) working in a Missouri public school may be nominated for the Teacher of the Year program. A committee appointed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education selects a winner according to criteria established at the national level. The selection committee includes a school administrator, a representative from Missouri PTA, a school public relations specialist, a representative from the corporate sponsor, a representative from each of the three teacher organizations, and the current and past Teacher of the Year. The selection committee meets during the summer to review candidates’ materials and choose the finalists. The committee interviews the finalists to select a winner.
The Teacher of the Year represents Missouri’s 69,000 teachers and automatically becomes a candidate for National Teacher of the Year honors. Only 39 individuals have been named to the select group of Missouri Teachers of the Year since the state began participating in the national awards program in 1957.
Each fall the Missouri State Board of Education honors the Teacher of the Year and state finalists at a banquet in Jefferson City. The Teacher of the Year awards are presented by the president of the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education. The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association donates a new leased vehicle for use by the Teacher of the Year for two years. The Teacher of the Year and finalists also receive cash awards and other prizes.
State-level honors for the Teacher of the Year include:
- Cash award provided by The Boeing Company of St. Louis
- Use of a vehicle donated by MADA
- Classroom technology package
- Cash award provided by Missouri School Public Relations Association
- Recognition banquet sponsored by the Missouri State Board of Education
- Recognition ceremonies with the governor and legislature
National activities include:
- Meeting with other state Teachers of the Year and state coordinators (expenses paid)
- Attending International Space Camp (expenses paid)
- Meeting in the White House Rose Garden when the National Teacher of the Year is announced.
For more
information, contact David Welch, Teacher of the Year Program Coordinator (573-751-2453).