This past week, I sat down with recently crowned district teacher of the year, Kim Thompson, to hear what it really takes to win the award. To my surprise, there was much more involved in the procedure than just superb teaching methods and a school nomination. The Benicia High School English teacher divulged to me a complex process that goes into the prestigious title, one that I found strikingly similar to my experience with college applications.
Once a teacher from each school is chosen, candidates must complete a litany of paperwork, including a professional bio, resume, and three letters of recommendation. Several essays are also part of the submission, with topics ranging from teaching philosophy to school-community involvement and even education trends and issues. Once completed, the lengthy applications are reviewed by a committee of former district and county teachers of the year, who then select a winner.
Beyond the individual school district’s, there are county, state, and national levels to this award, each entailing more involved admissions. County teacher of the year nominees are required to submit videos of their class in session, as well as complete even more essays. At the top of the hierarchy– the national rank– the president announces a winner, who then takes a year off to promote their unique brand of teaching.
Beginning the daunting application process for colleges this year has given me a newfound respect for applicants at every level of the Teacher of the Year award. However, if it were up to me, Ms. Thompson would have been my nomination for National Teacher of the Year. In the two years I’ve had her, she’s improved my writing, expanded my vocabulary, taught me literary analysis-and she even helped me edit my very first article at the Herald. So congratulations to Ms. Thompson, and to all the teachers that consistently go above and beyond.

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