The Educational Service District (ESD) 113 announced the opening of the nominations for the 2026 Teacher of the Year and 2025 Classified School Employee of the Year awards.
“These awards recognize outstanding educators and school employees who have made significant contributions to their schools and communities,” stated the Capital Region ESD 113’s in a newsletter referencing the nominations.
ESDs will select regional winners, while a state selection committee will choose state winners. Each award will garner nine regional finalists from the state winners.
Winners will be recognized in an awards ceremony in the fall, and may attend a leadership retreat and engage in professional development opportunities.
The State Teacher of the Year will represent Washington during relevant national events, while the State Classified School Employee of the Year is nominated for the U.S. Department of Education's Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award.
Nominations for both awards will be accepted until March 2.
The 2026 Teacher of the Year Award honors educators exhibiting excellence in teaching, inspiring students and contributing to the development of education.
Washington's Teacher of the Year program recognizes a group of regional honorees and selects one candidate as the Washington State Teacher of the Year, moving the nomination up to the National Teacher of the Year award.
Any certificated teacher, who is teaching and planning to continue for two years or more, is eligible for the award.
The public may nominate any qualified teacher by using the online Educator of the Year Nomination Form.
After the submission, OSPI will send the nominee, their principal and regional coordinator a copy and a link to the online application.
“The state committee uses the written application, interviews, and a short keynote, to decide which candidate best exemplifies the Teacher of the Year criteria,” the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website stated.
The 2025 Classified School Employee of the Year Award recognizes classified school employees, ranging from paraeducators and office staff to custodians and other support personnel.
Any public school classified staff member in a non-executive management position with plans to continue in the role through the following school year, and has not already been recognized as a Regional or State Classified School Employee of the Year, is eligible.
The community may nominate a qualified staff for the Classified School Employee of the Year online.
The application requires biographical information, essays and letters of recommendation, which nominees shall apply for to be considered as their region's finalist.
The selection process starts at the Capital Region ESD 113, where a Regional Classified School Employee of the Year is selected and nominated to the state.
Regional Classified School Employees of the Year are then assessed by a state selection committee, which evaluates written applications and letters of support and conducts a panel interview.
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