The Teachers of the Year recognition program is intended to honor excellence in the classroom and provide a forum to showcase outstanding educators whose efforts and example have inspired their students, their colleagues and the community they serve. All recipients must:

• demonstrate outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching
• take an active role in their communities as well as their schools
• be professional, poised and articulate
• inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities
• be skillful, dedicated teachers who plan to actively continue classroom teaching