Eligibility & Timeline: The Arizona Teacher of the Year Process
Any full-time certified teacher working in Arizona at a state-accredited public school or school operating under the Bureau of Indian Education is eligible to apply.
Arizona Teacher of the Year Timeline
- August-March: Nominations Open
- April: Arizona Teacher of the Year Application Due
- Mid April: Fifteen Quarterfinalists announced
- Late April: Semifinalists Determined
- Early May: Panel Interviews with Top 10 Teacher of the Year Candidates
- Late May: Five Finalists Announced
- August: Winner Announced
Arizona Teacher of the Year Process
The journey toward Arizona Teacher of the Year is a multi-step process and begins with a nomination.
Teachers can be nominated by administrators, students, parents, colleagues, or self-nominate. Each nominee receives a link to the Arizona Teacher of the Year application. The number of nominations does not affect selection, as decisions are based solely on the teacher’s application. The selection committee does not know who nominated the teacher, ensuring an unbiased process.
Once nominated, teachers receive a link to verify eligibility and complete the Teacher of the Year application by the deadline. Applicants must submit three recommendation letters, a resume, a photo, and a short video. The selection panel reviews applications and selects the top 15 as Quarterfinalists. Note: Using AI tools like ChatGPT to write the application is strictly prohibited and results in disqualification.
The selection committee ranks applications to determine the top 15 Quarterfinalists, who then have their videos reviewed and scored. The top 10 become Semifinalists and the Top Ten Arizona Teachers of the Year, while the remaining five receive Honorable Mentions. All 15 are celebrated at the annual awards ceremony, and Quarterfinalists can reapply the following year if eligible. Semifinalists advance to the next round.
The Top Ten Semifinalists advance to in-person interviews with the selection panel, including an impromptu speech and a teaching demonstration. Results determine five Finalists, called “Ambassadors for Excellence,” while the remaining five remain Semifinalists. All ten are honored at the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards and receive prize packages. The Arizona Teacher of the Year is chosen from the five Ambassadors and announced live during the ceremony.
The five Ambassadors undergo further evaluation, including a filmed lesson and interview on their campus, and participate in professional speech and media training. These interactions help determine which Ambassador will be named Arizona Teacher of the Year.
All 15 teachers are celebrated like rock stars at the annual Awards ceremony.
The winning Arizona teacher completes their application for National Teacher of the Year.
Thanks to sponsor support, all ten honored teachers receive opportunities throughout the year. The Teacher of the Year and four Ambassadors engage in a “year of recognition,” including public appearances, speaking engagements, professional development, and policy work. The Teacher of the Year also takes on additional responsibilities, including participation in the National Teacher of the Year program.
After their recognition year, Teachers of the Year and Ambassadors are encouraged to engage in a “year of service” by joining the Teacher of the Year selection panel, judging the A+ Schools of Excellence program, and participating in the Arizona chapter of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year.
Nominations
Nomination Deadline: March 1, 2026, at 10 a.m.. Districts and counties announcing their Teachers of the Year after this deadline or with multiple nominations should contact Mark Paulsen at mark@azedfoundation.org to submit their nominees. A teacher only needs nominated once to participate. Multiple nominations for the same teacher do not impact selection.
Arizona Teacher of the Year Eligibility
Any full-time certified teacher working in Arizona at a state-accredited public school or school operating under the Bureau of Indian Education is eligible to apply.
Additionally, applicants must:
- Be a full-time certified teacher who intends to continue in an active teaching status through school year 2026-2027. What does “active teaching status” and “full-time” mean? “Active teaching status” means the teacher is planning to continue teaching (e.g. not retiring or moving into an administrative position in the next year). “Full-time” means the teacher spends the majority (over 75%) of their teaching assignment providing meaningful instruction to students (as opposed to primarily coaching teachers or similar activities). There may be some positions where the candidate is still identified as a teacher by their district (e.g. if they are a teacher leader, doing instructional coaching, etc.). In this instance, the individual would need to be on a teacher contract and meet the requirement of spending the majority of their teaching assignment (over 75%) providing meaningful instruction students. Applicants are encouraged to contact Mark Paulsen at mark@azedfoundation.org to seek clarification if needed.
- Teach any grade Pre-K-12th (or combination) in Arizona. Teachers may work in any content area, including Special Education, P.E., the Arts, etc.
- Have completed at least six (6) full years as a fully certified classroom teacher at the time the application is submitted with the most recent three years in Arizona. Years of student teaching, internships, or apprenticeships do not count toward the six-year requirement.
- Not have been selected as an AEF™ Teacher of the Year, Semifinalist or Ambassador for Excellence in the past.
- Be available to fulfill ambassadorial duties during the year of recognition and be supported by their employer.
Arizona Teachers of the Year Archive
It’s a great distinction to be honored as Arizona Teacher of the Year. Check out past Teacher of the Year honorees!
Arizona Teacher of the Year Prize Package
Through the generosity of our donors, AEF is able to provide the following* for the Top fifteen nominated Teachers:
For the Arizona Teacher of the Year
- $15,000 cash
- Arizona Teacher of the Year plaque and medal
- Arizona’s candidate for National Teacher of the Year
- Travel to Washington D.C. to meet the President of the United States (pending each administration)
- Travel to International Space Camp in Huntsville, AL
- Travel to the National Teacher of the Year Program Induction**
- Considered to receive Honorary Doctorate from NAU College of Education
- Opportunity to throw out the first pitch at an Arizona Diamondbacks home game
- “Fiesta Bowl Experience Package” provided by Fiesta Bowl Charities; includes special dinner, travel accommodations, Bowl tickets, and on-field recognition at the Fiesta Bowl
- Honored in the Fiesta Bowl Parade on the APS fire engine
- AZ K12 Center Scholarship to pursue National Board Certification; National Board Pre-Candidacy Class; Five (5) AZK12 Coaching Saturdays; and complimentary registration to the annual Teacher Leadership Institute
- Professional speech and media training led by Heidi Vega (ASBA) and Andrew Morrill (WestED)
- Complimentary field trip for students including admission AND transportation; also includes a complimentary “Arts Immersions Virtual Reality field trip” for students courtesy of Act One.
- $100 gift card from V.I.P. Mortgage
- iPad and case from Desert Financial
- AEF “Everyone’s Story Includes a Teacher” hoodie, tee, and tumbler
For the Four Ambassadors for Excellence
- $5,000 cash
- Arizona Teacher of the Year Ambassador for Excellence plaque and medal
- “Fiesta Bowl Experience Package” provided by Fiesta Bowl Charities; includes special dinner, travel accommodations, Bowl tickets, and on-field recognition at the Fiesta Bowl
- Honored in the Fiesta Bowl Parade on the APS fire engine
- Complimentary field trip for students including admission AND transportation; also includes a complimentary “Arts Immersions Virtual Reality field trip” for students courtesy of Act One.
- AZ K12 Center Scholarship to pursue National Board Certification; National Board Pre-Candidacy Class; Five (5) AZK12 Coaching Saturdays; and complimentary registration to the annual Teacher Leadership Institute
- Professional speech and media training led by Heidi Vega (ASBA) and Andrew Morrill (WestEd)
- $100 gift card from V.I.P. Mortgage
- iPad and case from Desert Financial
- AEF “Everyone’s Story Includes a Teacher” hoodie, tee, and tumbler
For the Five Semifinalists
- $1,000 cash
- Arizona Teacher of the Year Semifinalist plaque and medal
- “Fiesta Bowl Experience Package” provided by Fiesta Bowl Charities; includes special dinner, travel accommodations, Bowl tickets, and on-field recognition at the Fiesta Bowl
- Honored in the Fiesta Bowl Parade on the APS fire engine
- Complimentary field trip for students including admission AND transportation; also includes a complimentary “Arts Immersions Virtual Reality field trip” for students courtesy of Act One.
- Complimentary registration to the AZK12 Center’s annual Teacher Leadership Institute
- $100 gift card from V.I.P. Mortgage
- iPad and case from Desert Financial
- AEF “Everyone’s Story Includes a Teacher” hoodie, tee, and tumbler
For the Five Quarterfinalists
- Recognized at annual ceremony as an “Honorable Mention”
- Arizona Teacher of the Year Quarterfinalist certificate
- $100 gift card from V.I.P. Mortgage
- $50 Amazon gift card
- AEF “Everyone’s Story Includes a Teacher” mug
*Awards are dependent on funding and donor participation and are subject to change each year without notice.
**The National Teacher of the Year program is the oldest and most prestigious honors program to focus public attention on excellence in teaching. It is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in partnership with Voya Foundation.
Book a Teacher of the Year for Your Event
The Teacher of the Year, Ambassadors for Excellence and Semifinalists are available to provide keynote addresses, lead professional development workshops or attend special events. To book one of these award-winning educators, click the button below to submit an interest form.