On February 12, the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) announced that nominations and applications for 2022 Montana Teacher of the Year are now open. The 2021 Montana Teacher of the Year was Kristi Borge of Polaris, and the State is looking for its next A+ teacher. This individual not only works to make the community a better place for their students but in turn teaches their students to have a positive impact on the community.

Officials at OPI described the mission of the Montana Teacher of the Year (TOY) Program as one proposing to elevate student success by empowering classroom innovation and enhancing pathways to teacher leadership. The web page dedicated to the TOY enumerates three objectives of the program:

• To elevate student success by celebrating teachers who honor individual student strengths and each child’s unique abilities;

• To empower classroom innovation by recognizing teachers who are responsive to the complex realities that define Montana’s diverse and unique classrooms across the state; and

• To enhance pathways to teacher leadership by creating teacher ambassadors at the local, state, and national level to connect classrooms to the community.

Montana’s TOY Program is part of the National Teacher of the Year Program conducted by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), of which Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction is a member. Diverse statewide selection committees review and interview applicants to determine the finalists and ultimately the Montana TOY who then competes at the national level to become CCSSO’s National TOY (NTOY).

All active Montana K-12 teachers who are making a positive difference for students in their community are eligible. Any member of the public can complete the online nomination form for a Montana teacher they feel is qualified. These forms are found on the OPI website (http://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/Montana-Teacher-of-the-Year). A committee member will then reach out to the nominated teacher and ask that the individual complete an application.

Teachers can also self-nominate by filling out an application. Nominations are due by May 14, and applications are due June 18. Anyone seeking additional information about deadlines or requirements can email MTTOY@mt.gov.

CCSSO’s NTOY Program is the most prestigious teacher recognition program in the country. According to program organizers, one teacher from the cohort of State Teachers of the Year is selected to be the NTOY. “It’s both a year of honor and one of service. The role of the National Teacher of the Year is to bring national public attention on the importance of excellence in teaching.”