Each public school district and public charter system in Arkansas may select one teacher as its District Teacher of the Year (DTOY) and nominate that teacher for the Arkansas Teacher of the Year (ATOY) program. As required by Arkansas Code Annotated § 6-17-2501 et seq., the Arkansas Teacher of the Year will be selected from among District Teachers of the Year.  Each public school district and public charter system will report the name of their selected District Teacher of the Year to the Arkansas Department of Education. 

To ensure accurate records and timely planning for statewide recognition and communications, districts must complete the District Teacher of the Year Reporting Form using the form linked: https://forms.gle/3Mrx1ipgVGMPSa1N6. Submissions are due by Friday, March 20, 2026, at 11:59PM.

Submission of this form is required for all districts, even if the District Teacher of the Year selection has not been announced publicly. Districts that are still in the selection process should indicate that status within the form. The information collected will be used for official ADE records and future Teacher of the Year communications. 

The Arkansas Department of Education will begin accepting nominations for the 2027 Arkansas Teacher of the Year (ATOY) program in April. 

The 2027 ATOY will then be eligible for the National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) program. The National Teacher of the Year program, which is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers, began in 1952. As part of the NTOY program, the Arkansas Teacher of Year program promotes the teaching profession and identifies and recognizes teachers in elementary and secondary classrooms in Arkansas public schools who exemplify excellence both inside and outside the classroom. 

For information about the Arkansas Teacher of the Year program, please visit https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/recognition-programs/arkansas-teacher-of-the-year.