The public is invited to join Vermont educators to directly nominate teachers for the prestigious statewide distinction of Teacher of the Year. The winner will serve as an advocate for Vermont's teachers, students, and education system.
Nominations can be completed through May 31. To encourage more submissions, the process has been simplified to require only the most basic information about the nominator, the nominee, and their school, as well as a short overview of what makes the nominee an extraordinary teacher.
“I am proud to represent all of the incredible teachers and colleagues I have met, studied with, collaborated with, and admired,” said Susan Koch, 2016 Vermont Teacher of the Year.
“Education today is a vibrant, exciting profession. The role of a teacher in a child's education has fundamentally changed. We are no longer lecturing students as they sit in a 'one size fits all classroom.'
“Educators are providing unique learning opportunities for students that often include forest lessons, community visits, virtual field trips, and collaborative teaching. Students are creating their own knowledge, learning actively, setting goals, and reflecting upon their learning. The teaching profession is a dynamic and exciting field.”
To be considered for the Vermont Teacher of the Year program, a teacher must hold a current Vermont teaching license, have a minimum of five years teaching experience, and be employed by a Vermont public, private, or approved independent school.
Koch is a Union Elementary School Kindergarten and first-grade teacher.