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Maine Teacher of the Year
The Maine Teacher of the Year is an outstanding teacher who best represents the thousands of excellent educators in Maine. He or she serves as an advocate for the teaching profession, education and students.
To be considered for nomination, a teacher must hold at least a four-year degree and be employed by a Maine public school, including a public charter school; or be employed by a publicly supported secondary school (a private school that enrolls 60 percent or more publicly funded students, sometimes referred to as “the academies” or “the Big 11”).
Any teacher, parent, student, or community member may nominate a teacher by contacting the building principal, who then convenes a committee to complete the nomination papers.
Shannon Shanning: 2013 Teacher of the Year
Shannon Shanning is a special education teacher at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School in Poland. She was named Maine's 2013 Teacher of the Year at a surprise, all-school assembly on Sept. 10, 2012. Mrs. Shanning's duties as Teacher of the Year run Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2013.
- Learn more about Shannon Shanning: Invite her to speak at your school or community event
- Website developed by Shannon Shanning, 2013 Teacher of the Year
Selecting the Teacher of the Year
Educate Maine manages the Teacher of the Year program and selection of the Teacher of the Year on behalf of the Maine Department of Education. The nomination period for Maine's 2014 Teacher of the Year ended February 1, 2013.
The selection process starts at the local level, where anyone can nominate an eligible teacher -- a teacher must hold at least a four-year degree and be employed by a Maine public school, including a public charter school; or be employed by a publicly supported secondary school (a private school that enrolls 60 percent or more publicly funded students, sometimes referred to as "the academies" or "the Big 11" -- by contacting that teacher's building principal/administrator. The principal then convenes a local committee to complete the nomination papers, which are available on this website during the nomination period.
- 2014 Selection Process and Nomination Form (PDF, 246KB)
- 2014 Calendar of Events
- Example Nomination Process: Westbrook Schools (PDF, 40KB)
Program Information & Sponsors
The Maine Teacher of the Year program is managed by Educate Maine on behalf of the Maine Department of Education. Special thanks to the Maine State Board of Education and the Maine State Teacher of the Year Association for their support and advice.
Since 1994, the Teacher of the Year program has received generous financial support from Hannaford. Beginning in 2012, Bangor Savings Bank began reimbursing the Teacher of the Year's school district for the cost of substitutes while the Teacher of the Year was out of the classroom on official duties.
The Maine Teacher of the Year program is affiliated with the National Teacher of the Year program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Teacher of the Year Brochure: Distribute widely to encourage nominations (PDF, 411 KB)
Maine Teachers of the Year: Past and Present
- Maine Teachers of the Year, 1954 to Present
- Website developed by Shannon Shanning, 2013 Teacher of the Year
- Blog developed by Alana Margeson, 2012 Teacher of the Year
- Wikispace developed by Shelly Moody, 2011 Teacher of the Year
- Blog developed by Gloria Noyes, 2009 Teacher of the Year
- Website developed by Brittany Ray, 2007 Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the Year News
- Teacher of the Year nominees announced, Feb. 13, 2013
- Governor, Ed Commissioner announce 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year semi-finalists, partnership with Educate Maine, April 4, 2013
Contact
Dolly Sullivan
Educate Maine, Teacher of the Year Program Coordinator
207-631-3385
Dolly@EducateMaine.org
