2015-2016 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year
Instructions: Please read the explanation of the application process below, including a timeline and details regarding
submission requirements for the Round 1 application. For more information, please visit the Teacher of the Year
webpage. Please email questions to the Educator Recognition mailbox at EducatorRecognition@doe.mass.edu.
Teacher of the Year Application Process
Round 1 – Preliminary Application (due Friday, February 20, 2015)
 Candidate information, four essays, resumé, photograph, and principal’s form and letter of support
 Semi-finalists will be selected and notified by mid-March
Round 2 – Semi-Finalist Application (due March 19, 2015)
 Written task and submission of contact information for three references
 Selected applicants will be notified by end of March
Round 3 – Classroom Visits (April 1-April 15, 2015)
 A team from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) will conduct classroom visits for
selected applicants.
 Selected applicants will be invited to interview at ESE in Malden, and will be notified by mid-April.
Round 4 – Final Interviews (April 28 & 29, 2015)
 Interviews with an independent selection committee will be held at the Department in Malden on Tuesday, April
28.
 The recommended candidate will have interviews with the Associate Commissioner of Educator Effectiveness
and the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Round 1 Application: Due February 20, 2015
Please click here for the online application.
Overview and Instructions
Section of the Application
Candidate Information
Professional Resumé
Photograph (recent color head and shoulder
photograph suitable for publicity purposes)
Application Essay Questions
Principal’s Form and Letter of Support
Submission Instructions
Complete the information in the online application
Upload your current resumé to the online application
Upload to the online application
Complete the essays to the online application
Your current principal should use the Principal Form on the next page to
complete this step (Although your Principal will submit this separately, this
must be submitted by the deadline for your application to be considered).
General Application Instructions
 Review the application process and eligibility requirements prior to submitting an application.
 Observe instructions throughout, including word limits.
 Unless otherwise noted, the application must be completed online (Word/PDF documents, as applicable;
photograph may be submitted in most common digital formats such as .jpeg, .gif, etc.).
 For co-teacher applications, each teacher needs to submit an individual candidate information form, resumé,
and photograph, but may collaborate and submit one copy for each of the essays. The principal only needs to
submit one form and one letter for co-teachers.
Please be aware that the material you submit will be the only information upon which this part of the application will be judged. Please do not
submit additional materials.
2015-2016 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year: Essay Questions
Instructions: Please answer the following four Round 1 essay questions and complete your answers in the online
application by February 20, 2015. Please adhere to the word count maximums.
Application Essay Questions
1.
Professional Biography – (maximum: 500 words)
A. Tell us the story of why you teach (in your particular subject/grade level/location) and who you are as
a teacher.
2.
Impact as an Educator – (maximum: 1,200 words)
A. Explain the impact your teaching has made in supporting student learning, growth, and achievement
(please focus on a class or group of students, as opposed to one student). Include data to support
your response.
B. How have you engaged other stakeholders (families, community members, colleagues) in supporting
student achievement?
C. How have you displayed leadership within your school, district and beyond?
3.
Goals – (maximum: 300 words)
A. What are your professional goals/aspirations? Include specific goals you will focus on and achieve in
the next 3-5 years.
4.
Education Issues – (maximum: 500 words)
A. Describe an education issue that’s important to you. Address causes, effects, and the impact on
students, as well as how teachers can play a role in addressing and solving this issue.
B. How can teachers play a role in addressing and solving this issue?
Note: As there is no “save and continue” option in the online application, we recommend that you save your
responses in advance in order to copy and paste your responses to the essay questions in the online
application.
Remember, do not submit your online application until you have completed the candidate information,
attached your resumé and photograph, and include your response to the essay questions.
Please give your principal the following form which needs to be submitted separately, along with the principal’s
letter of support, by the application deadline of February 20, 2015.
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906
Telephone: (781) 338-3000
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
2016 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year: Principal’s Form
Instructions for the Candidate: Please provide this form to your current Principal. The completed form
and accompanying letter of support must be received by February 20, 2015, in order for your application
to be considered.
Instructions for the Principal:
 Please complete this form and write a letter of support (on school letterhead and no longer than
2 pages) for the teacher nominated for Teacher of the Year.
 Mail the form and letter of support in a sealed envelope with your signature across the seal.
 Both documents must arrive at the Department by February 20, 2015. Mail to:
Teacher of the Year Program
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Attn: Deborah Walker
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148
Please note:
 The letter should provide evidence of the teacher’s effectiveness and leadership in the school,
district and beyond.
 All information included in the form and accompanying letter will be confidential.
Information about the Nominated Teacher:
Compared to other teachers you have encountered in your professional career, please indicate how you
would rate the Teacher of the Year applicant in the following areas:
Top 5%
Teaching practice
Leadership skills in the school/district
Raising student achievement
Communication skills with students and parents
Involving families and community in the classroom
Solutions –driven mindset
Collaboration with colleagues
Do you feel confident recommending this educator to be Teacher of the Year?
Yes
No
Comments (Optional):
Top 10%
Top 25%