Memo Text
The Division of Elementary & Secondary Education will begin accepting nominations for the 2023 Arkansas Teacher of the Year (ATOY) beginning March 14, 2022. Each public school district in Arkansas may select one teacher as its District Teacher of the Year and nominate that teacher for the ATOY.
A selection panel assembled by DESE will review the applications and select 16 regional finalists, one representing each education service cooperative and one representing Pulaski County. The panel will select four state finalists from among the regional finalists. The panel will conduct site visits before selecting the ATOY.
Candidates must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Candidates must be skillful and dedicated teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.
- The ATOY candidate must be engaged directly in instruction in a classroom setting for more than 70 percent of the individual's contracted time.
- Instructional Facilitators must be engaged directly in instruction with students in a classroom setting for more than seventy percent (70%) of the individual’s contracted time
to qualify.
- Librarians and Guidance Counselors are eligible to participate in the ATOY.
- Administrators are not eligible.
The ATOY will begin his or her duties on July 1, 2023 and will end his or her duties on June 30, 2024. Duties include the following:
- Serving on paid administrative leave from his or her district to work with the Division of Elementary & Secondary Education.
- Developing professional development and providing technical assistance to Arkansas teachers and students.
- Serving as a non-voting member of the State Board of Education.
- Serving as an ambassador for education in Arkansas.
- Making appropriate public appearances across the state.
- Representing Arkansas in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Candidates nominated by their districts must complete an online application which is available at this link: 2023 ATOY Application
The online application will require candidates to upload the following items:
- *Candidacy Approval Form with all signatures (pdf format).
- One resume no longer than two pages (pdf format).
- Three letters of recommendation that support why the candidate should be the 2023 National Teacher of the Year. At least one of these must be a recommendation from a parent, colleague, or administrator, and each letter should not exceed one page in length (pdf format).
- (Please note that the letters for the candidate who is selected as the 2023 Arkansas Teacher of the Year will be submitted to the National Teacher of the Year program.)
- One video that is three to five minutes in length. The first minutes must showcase the candidate's story as an educator. The additional time must showcase the candidate's passion for education through one of three provided topics in the application. The videos must be recorded with no editing, within the required time, and uploaded into Google. The online application will require the candidate to submit the Google link to the video (Google link).
- Evidence of student growth - up to four documents, which should include a one-page typed explanation of the evidence (pdf format)
- One portrait photograph of the candidate suitable for use in publicity activities (jpg format). Photo must not be copyrighted.
- *Adult Release Form (pdf format).
*Denotes the document is attached to this memo and found on the ATOY webpage.
The deadline to submit all materials is Monday, June 6, 2022, at noon.
ATOY
Timeline
March
14, 2022
|
Application
Window Opens
|
May
11, 2022
|
ATOY
Application Support Zoom meeting on Wednesday, May 11th at 3:00 p.m. Webinar
information will go out on social media and the ATOY webpage on May 4th.
|
June
6, 2022
|
Applications
are due by NOON.
|
June
10, 2022
|
Applications
go out to the selection panel for scoring
|
July
15, 2022
|
Regional
Finalists will be notified
|
August
2022
|
Finalist
Recognition Ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion
|
August
2022
|
Finalist
Recognition at the Arkansas Travelers Game (tentative)
|
September
2022
|
The ATOY
selection panel visits four finalists’ schools for classroom observations and
interviews
|
December
2022
|
Announcement
of 2023 ATOY will be made prior to this date
|
January
2023
|
2023 ATOY
begins training for year of service
|
July
1, 2023
|
2023 ATOY
begins year of service
|