Oregon Teacher Of The Year: 2025/26 Nominations Open

Nominations for the next Oregon Teacher of the Year are now open.

Oregon Teacher Of The Year Nominations

The Oregon Department of Education has partnered with the Oregon Lottery to find an Oregon teacher to be the state’s face and voice of educators as the Teacher of the Year.  The Teacher of the Year will represent the profession, engaging and inspiring other teachers and community leaders.

Nominations for Oregon Teacher of the Year will be open until February 6. Nominees should be exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled licensed public school educators in grades pre-K-12. To see who is eligible, visit the “About” section on the website.

After nominations close in February, eligible nominated teachers will be invited to apply. After receiving an invitation, the teacher must apply to be one of the 19 Education Service Districts statewide’s Regional Teacher of the Year. Each Regional Teacher of the Year will be celebrated across the state in September and receive an award of $1,000.

The 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year will be chosen by a blue ribbon panel from the regional winners. The winner can submit an application to be considered for the National Teacher of the Year award.

The Oregon Teacher of the Year is awarded $10,000 plus a special fund funded by the Oregon Lottery to cover their travel costs for the year. Bryan Butcher Jr., Oregon’s 2024-25 Teacher of the Year, said, “Being selected as Oregon Teacher of the Year has truly been an honor for me, my family, and my community.”

To honor an outstanding educator in your life by nominating an exemplary educator, go to the Oregon Teacher of the Year nominations website and fill in the form. If you have any questions, contact Michelle Goodness, the Oregon Teacher of the Year Program Coordinator, at [email protected].