Teacher of the Year Search Process Begins
The search is under way for the next Durham Public Schools Teacher of the Year. DPS Teacher Council members heard about the process for selecting the next top teacher at the January 12 meeting.
There are four eligibility standards to be considered for the North Carolina and DPS Teacher of the Year.
- A North Carolina public school classroom teacher who holds a Standard Professional II license, pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
- A classroom teacher is defined as a person who spends not less than one-half time (three or more hours per day) five days a week for six or more months during a fiscal year in a classroom teaching students.
- Personnel whose major responsibilities are administrative or supervisory are not eligible.
- School counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and media coordinators are not eligible.
Other issues considered to determine a teacher’s eligibility for the regional and state levels of competition include:
- If a teacher has probationary status in DPS and has a Standard Professional II license, the teacher is eligible. Tenure in DPS is not a requirement.
- If a teacher has a provisional license in an area, he or she is eligible as long as he or she has a Standard Professional II license in at least one other teaching area.
Teacher of the Year winners from each school submit their data sheets and responses to two questions to Fred Williams in Human Resource Services on February 11. On February 19, 10 semi-finalists will be notified. In March, the four finalists will be notified. On May 5, Triangle Orthopedics and NC Specialty Hospital will sponsor the Teacher of the Year banquet.
Northern High School’s Matt Hunt is the current Teacher of the Year for DPS.
Questions about the process should be submitted to Fred Williams via DPS email.
