Oregon – With the Oregon Department of Education announcing the opening of nominations for the 2025–26 Teacher of the Year, the annual hunt for Oregon’s next best educator formally got underway. Open through February 6, the nomination period allows colleagues teachers as well as community people to honor outstanding educators in the public schools in the state.
The Oregon Teacher of the Year program honors exceptional public-school teachers who have shown remarkable commitment, knowledge, and talent in class, therefore celebrating excellence in education. This esteemed prize not only celebrates personal success but also positions teachers as champions of education, giving them a stage on which to promote and inspire throughout the educational spectrum.
Nominees must be licensed teachers working in any public school in the state, grades preK–12. All qualified applicants will be encouraged to finish a formal application after early February’s nomination closure. These applications serve as the first step in a rigorous selection process to identify 19 Regional Teachers of the Year—one from each of Oregon’s Education Service Districts.
Every regional champion will be celebrated statewide in events set for September and receive a $1,000 award. Still, the path doesn’t end here. One of these outstanding teachers will then be chosen by a panel of distinguished judges as the 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year.

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Along with a specific fund to help with travel expenses over their time as the state’s educational ambassador, the final winner will get a sizable payment of $10,000 thanks to a partnership between the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Lottery.
“Being selected as Oregon Teacher of the Year has truly been an honor for me, my family, and my community. It has felt like an award we’ve all won,” said Bryan Butcher Jr., Oregon’s 2024-25 Teacher of the Year. “The chance to make an impact is why I began teaching. And with this new honor, I have the chance to spread that impact in ways I could not have imagined. I’m stoked for the future!”
The Oregon Teacher of the Year also gets an opportunity to compete for the National Teacher of the Year award, therefore potentially reflecting national educational success.
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This is an ideal opportunity to honor the commitment and influence of a teacher you know who is changing things. See the Oregon Teacher of the Year website or contact the program coordinator, Michelle Goodness, for further details on qualifying and the nomination process.
The Oregon Teacher of the Year program keeps promoting a culture of excellence in education that helps students, institutions, and communities across the state by appreciating extraordinary skill and dedication in the teaching profession.