Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Nomination Process - Nominate an Outstanding Colleague Today

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford

Illinois State Board of Education outlines nomination and application requirements for the Those Who Excel (TWE) and Teacher of the Year (TOY) awards in the 2027 award cycle. Nominations are accepted year round, but candidates must be submitted by October 1, 2026, after which qualified nominees receive application instructions. The document details a projected timeline, professional eligibility categories, Illinois Teacher of the Year cohort overview, specialized and regional categories, and application review criteria tied to six competencies including equity, collaboration, leadership, and professional communication.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Nominate an Outstanding Colleague Today

Projected Timeline

Professional Categories

Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort

Regional Teachers of the Year

Specialized Teachers of the Year

Award Categories

Eligibility

Key Competencies

Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Nomination Process Join the Illinois State Board of Education in recognizing the incredible work happening in and around Illinois schools and celebrating the exemplary educators who go above and beyond to make positive impacts in their school communities. Please see our eligibility guidelines on Page 3 for teachers and other educators. Nominate an Outstanding Colleague Today! Nominations are accepted year round for Those Who Excel (TWE) & Teacher of the Year (TOY); however, nominations must be submitted by October 1, 2026 for consideration in the 2027 award cycle. All candidates must be nominated. Qualified nominees will be invited to submit an application. Scan the QR code on Page 4 to access the nomination form. Projected Timeline* 􀂍 October 1, 2026: Nominations due 􀂍 October 15, 2026: Applications sent out to qualified nominees 􀂍 November 15, 2026: Applications due 􀂍 December 2026: Applications reviewed and scored Professional Categories 􀂍 Teachers-Teachers with five or more years of teaching experience (including the current school year) 􀂍 Early Career Educators-Teachers with less than five years of experience (including the current school year) 􀂍 Administrators-Superintendents, principals, assistant principals, etc. 􀂍 Student Support Personnel-School nurses, psychologists, social workers, school counselors, speech-language therapists, deans, librarians, instructional coaches, etc. 􀂍 Educational Service Personnel-Aides/ paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, custodians, administrative assistants, support professionals, bus drivers, resource officers, etc. 􀂍 Community Volunteers-Parent-teacher association members, school board members, or any individuals not employed by the school/district who positively contribute time and energy to their school/district [www.isbe](www.isbe.net/TWETOY)[.net/TWETOY](www.isbe.net/TWETOY) August 2026 􀂍 Late February 2027: All awardees announced 􀂍 March 2027: Teacher of the Year Reception and finalist interviews 􀂍 March 2027: Spring nomination period begins 􀂍 April 2027: Illinois Teacher of the Year announced 􀂍 April 2027: 53rd Annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Banquet 􀂍 July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028: State-funded sabbatical for 2027 Teacher of the Year *Timeline is approximate and subject to change Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Award Categories Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort Teachers selected for the 2027 Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort are experienced educators and experts at the forefront of their field. They demonstrate a commitment to equity and to the success of all students. These teacher-leaders collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create positive school cultures. They are lifelong learners who connect their classrooms to the community at large and who inspire other teachers within and beyond their schools. They have become integral members of their schools, districts, and the teaching profession and advocates for improving outcomes for students. The Regional and Specialized Teachers of the Year listed below are all part of the Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort. Among this cohort, those with five or more years of teaching experience qualify as finalists for Illinois Teacher of the Year. Regional Teachers of the Year 􀂍 Far North Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year 􀂍 Cook County Regional Teachers of the Year (Minimum of 3) 􀂍 Far West Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year 􀂍 Far South Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year 􀂍 East Central Regional Teacher of the Year 􀂍 Southern Regional Teacher of the Year 􀂍 Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year 􀂍 West Central Regional Teacher of the Year Specialized Teachers of the Year 􀂍 Bilingual Teacher of the Year 􀂍 Special Education Teacher of the Year 􀂍 Early Childhood Teacher of the Year 􀂍 Outstanding Early Career Educator of the Year Those Who Excel & Teacher of the

FAQs

When are nominations due for the 2027 award cycle?

Nominations must be submitted by October 1, 2026 for consideration in the 2027 award cycle.

How do qualified nominees move forward after nomination?

Qualified nominees are invited to submit an application, with access to the nomination form provided via a QR code.

What are the six key competencies used to evaluate eligibility?

Candidates are evaluated on six competencies: experience and expertise, commitment to equity, collaboration with students and families, connecting classroom and community, leadership and innovation, and engaging professional communication.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford