Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year 2025
The Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards are presented annually to honor and reward teachers in Oakland County who have achieved through their effort and example, the highest standards of excellence in their profession. Oakland Schools has established these awards out of a conviction that a quality public education system is essential to the health and vitality of our community. We believe that encouraging excellence in education is the shared responsibility of all who benefit from it.
This program recognizes nominees in Oakland County. One early childhood, elementary, middle/junior high, and high school teacher are each selected to receive the Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, which includes a monetary prize. All nominees are invited to celebrate their nominations at our signature recognition event at Oakland Schools.
We have a NEW Category - Early Childhood
To continue our advocacy for teachers in Oakland County, we are excited to announce a new category to our program this year, Early Childhood! Nominees must be certified, full-time teachers in a public school or Great Start Readiness Program in Oakland County. Certifications include ZA, ZS, or a degree in Early Childhood Education (Bachelor, Master, B-K, or PreK-3rd grade). They must have at least five years of classroom experience in Early Childhood. Junior Kindergarten programs will fall under the elementary category.
How to Apply
- Click the nominate a teacher button below.
- The application deadline is February 7, 2025 by 4:00 p.m.
- Remember to gather all required materials before you begin the nomination form.
Tips for Submitting Your Nomination Form:
- Have all materials ready before starting the form.
- Answer all questions.
- Provide specific examples of how the teacher has engaged students.
- Make sure your nomination form is complete before submitting.
- Submit a nomination form online by clicking the “Nominate a Teacher” button.
Materials for Nomination
Gather Items Before You Begin
- Phonetic Spelling of First and Last Name (for awards ceremony)
- Grade(s) and Subject(s) teaching
- Teacher email address
- Teacher mobile number
- Local school district
- School name
- Principal name
- Principal email address
- Nominator name
- Nominator email address
- Nomination category
- Nominator specific examples within the last 1-3 years of how this teacher has done the following (supporting attachments permitted)
- Engages students (Motivation, role model, active participation of students etc.)
- Meets the individual needs of students. (Differentiated instruction, academic coaching, student success, etc.)
- Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the subject area. (Lifelong learning, sharing with peers, student success, etc.)
- Demonstrates classroom management. (Consistent and fair with students, physically and emotionally safe classroom, learning conducive environment, etc.)
- Relates to parents and colleagues. (Participation in parent/teacher activities, accessible to parent using a variety of communication tools, professional collaboration with colleagues, etc.)
- Demonstrates citizenship and leadership in the school community. (Ethics and values - walks the talk, respected by students and peers, volunteerism etc.)
- Supporting Statement: Colleague letter, name and telephone or email
- Supporting Statement: Parent letter, name and telephone or email
- Supporting Statement: Student letter, name and telephone or email
- Teacher’s Educational Background (Degree, Major, College Years/Expected)
- Teacher’s Educational Career (Three most recent teaching positions held)
- If possible, nominee’s school photo or headshot for our awards ceremony
Nominate a Teacher
Each district may submit one nominee in each of the four categories:
- Early Childhood (Before Junior Kindergarten)
- Elementary (Junior Kindergarten - 5th grade)
- Middle School (6th grade - 8th grade)
- High School (9th grade - 12th grade)
The Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award includes a $2,000 prize from the Oakland Schools Education Foundation to the winners of each category. Oakland Schools will recognize all nominees at our Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony and provide the prize to the three recipients at this special event on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Eligibility and Timeline
Eligibility
- Nominees must be certified, full-time teachers, employed in a public school in Oakland County (for our Early Childhood category, a Great Start Readiness Program teacher in an Oakland County Community Based Organization will also be accepted).
- Nominees must have a minimum of five (5) full years of classroom teaching experience.
- Ancillary district personnel, such as social workers, counselors or media specialists (unless they are full-time, certified teachers), are not eligible for this award.
- If a teacher had been nominated for this award in the past five years, they are not eligible to be nominated this year.
Nomination process
In order to make the nomination process consistent, we require all nominations to be submitted electronically. All information must be typed into the electronic application.
Timeline
- This year's nomination process will begin in November 2024.
- Nominations will be due to Oakland Schools on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
- Winners will be announced via surprise classroom visit in March 2025.
- The recognition event for all nominees will take place at Oakland Schools on May 8, 2025.
- Questions regarding the program or event? Email Jessica Clarke
Very Important
- Nominations are coordinated by the teacher’s principal (or designee) and supported by students (current or former), parents and colleagues. Teachers may not nominate themselves and should not encourage others to nominate them.
- Nominations must be complete and must also include supporting statements from a student, parent, and colleague.
- Nominations that do not carefully follow the directions or meet eligibility requirements can be eliminated or points may be taken off score.
- The district coordinators are responsible for verifying all nominations are complete and meet eligibility requirements prior to submitting them to Oakland Schools.
Questions?
Questions regarding the program or event?
Contact Communication Services
Questions regarding the nomination process?
Contact jessica.clarke@oakland.k12.mi.us.