Region 7 Teacher of the Year Program
Application & Submission Instructions
Important Note: All candidates who are named as the district or charter school Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the
Year automatically advance to the regional competition, as long as their application is submitted by the June 11, 2014
deadline. District and charter school winners whose applications are not submitted by the deadline will not be considered
for the selection process. The district and charter school Teachers of the Year must be submitted to the Region 7 ESC by
the district superintendent or charter school chief administrator.
Instructions for completing the 2015 Texas Teacher of the Year Application form:
 Please provide all information requested in the application form. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
 Signatures of the candidate, the candidate's principal and the candidate's district superintendent (chief school
administrator) must be provided.
 Observe the page limits and spacing for each section; use no smaller than 10-point, easy-to-read font; margins
should be no less than 1 inch.
 Any additional pages and/or materials submitted will NOT be presented to the Region 7 ESC TOY Selection
Committee. Only the information and materials requested through the application will be contributed to the
selection process.
 Section I (page 1) must be submitted on the form provided. Sections II-VIII may be produced using your word
processing system but please adhere to the format established in the application. Number the sections and the
pages. However it is accomplished, what should result is a clean, clear copy suitable for easy black and white
copying and placement in a three-ring binder.
 Contact information under section I: Please note that the addresses listed for both home and school will be
used to send invitations and other communication regarding the regional and state programs. Candidates should
be sure to include the home and school MAILING addresses. Also, please be sure to indicate which e-mail and
phone number you will be most responsive to during the summer months.
 Each application must include one photograph, either hard copy or electronic, suitable for publicity purposes (5" x
7" color, high resolution, head shot). No photocopies accepted.
 The completed entry, with answers to the essay questions and the cover sheet with original signatures of the
applicant, principal and superintendent/chief school administrator, is due to Ashley Patterson, Region 7 ESC
Communications Specialist, no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2014. This is considered the official
entry and any failure to meet this deadline will result in disqualification. Electronic submission of applications
(email attachment or fax) is encouraged. If application is faxed, an email attachment submission of the
candidate’s photo is required. Mailed applications should be bound by a paper clip—please do NOT use staples.
 Nominees should complete the entire application form, cover sheet, and essay questions, and not exceed the
page limitations. Nominees are urged to be brief and succinct in their written responses, focusing on their most
significant experiences and characteristics. Please double check for spelling errors. Candidates who add a personal
touch to their applications will also produce a stronger entry, as well as provide contest judges—who have a
limited amount of time to evaluate each entry—with an application that is more readable and targets a nominee's
strong points.
 Application responses should be typed or word-processed, and be double-spaced, with at least one-inch margins
and a font size no smaller than 10 point. The essay topics, such as PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY or PHILOSOPHY
OF TEACHING, should be at the beginning of each section.
 The completed Candidate Application Form (page 1) is the cover sheet for the entry. Please do not add a cover
sheet with photos or artwork.
 The Application, on plain white paper, should be paper-clipped or submitted in a clear plastic folder with a
simple, sideways clasp. No staples, notebooks or loose-leaf binders, please.
 Teacher nominees and the districts should retain copies of entry materials as originals cannot be returned.
REGION 7 ESC
___________________________
Region Service Center
___________________________
Elementary or Secondary
___________________________
District Name and ID number
2015 Candidate Application Form
I. General Information and signatures
Nominee: First/Last Name_____________________________________________________________
Nominee’s e-mail: work____________________________ personal:____________________________
Home Mailing Address________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
City
State
Zip Code
Telephone
School Name_______________________________________________________________________
School Mailing Address_______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
City
State
Zip Code
Telephone
Educator Certification Program
Regular
Alternative Area of Certification___________________
Major Subject Area___________________
Grade Level_________
Total Years of Teaching Experience_______
Years in Present Position_______
I hereby give my permission that any or all of the attached materials or photos that may be taken of
me can be shared with persons interested in promoting, in a variety of media, the National and Texas
Teacher of the Year Programs.
Signature of Nominee_________________________________________________________
Principal: First/Last Name_________________________________________________________________
Principal’s e-mail address____________________________________Phone # (____ )________________
Signature of Principal_____________________________________________________________________
District Superintendent: First/Last Name______________________________________________________
Superintendent’s e-mail address_______________________________Phone # (____ )________________
Signature of Superintendent________________________________________________________________
District Public Information Officer: First/Last Name:______________________________________________
Public Information Officer’s e-mail:______________________________Phone # (____ )________________
All applications for winning district/charter Teachers of the Year (one elementary & one secondary maximum per
district/charter) must arrive at Region 7 ESC by 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2014.
**10 point minimum font size. Please reference nomination rules for complete instructions**
ESC USE ONLY
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II.
Educational History and Professional Development (Limit: Two double-spaced pages)
A. Beginning with the most recent, list colleges and universities and post-graduate studies, with
degrees earned and dates attended.
B. Beginning with the most recent, list teaching employment history, with time periods, grade levels
and subject areas.
C. Beginning with the most recent, list professional association memberships, offices held and other
relevant activities.
D. Beginning with the most recent, list staff development leadership activity and leadership activity in
the training of future teachers.
E. Beginning with the most recent, list awards and other recognition.
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III.
Professional Biography (Limit: Two double-spaced pages)
What are the background, people and events that persuaded you to become a teacher?
Describe your most significant contributions and accomplishments in education.
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IV.
Community Involvement (Limit: One double-spaced page)
Describe service-oriented involvement, such as volunteer work, civic and other group activities.
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V.
Philosophy of Teaching (Limit: Two double-spaced pages)
Describe your personal feelings and beliefs about teaching, including your own ideas of what
makes you an outstanding teacher. Describe the rewards you find in teaching. How are your
beliefs about teaching demonstrated in your personal teaching style?
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VI.
Education Issues and Trends (Limit: Two double-spaced pages)
What do you consider to be the major issues in public education today? Address one
in depth, outlining possible causes, effects and resolutions.
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VII.
The Teaching Profession (Limit: Two double-spaced pages)
What do you do to strengthen and improve the teaching profession?
What is or should be the basis for accountability in the teaching profession?
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VIII.
State Teacher of the Year (Limit: One double-spaced page)
As the 2012 National Teacher of the Year, you would become a spokesperson and
representative of the profession. What would be your message? What would you
communicate to your profession and to the general public?
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