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ISBE requires all candidates to be nominated. (Previously, candidates could apply without a nomination.) Nominations are open year-round and can be submitted via the Nomination Form on ISBE's Elevating Educators webpage. Nominations are accepted from educators, administrators, and community members and there is no limit to how many nominations can be submitted per individual, school, or district. ISBE issues a call for nominations in both the fall and spring in order that more talented educators might be considered throughout the school year and the educator talent pool be expanded for other programs and awards.   

Nominations are due by October 15, 2024, in order for the nominee to be considered for the 2025 Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year awards. New this year, ISBE will then reach out to school district administrators with the list of nominees from their school in order to ensure the school/district approves of each nominee representing its school/district in the awards. 

All eligible candidates for Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year awards will receive a link to the online application from the Illinois State Board of Education. The application window for the 2025 award cycle will run from November 1 – November 30, 2024. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 30 to be considered. 

All applications are scored by a review committee made up of ISBE staff, representatives from education organizations, and current and past awardees. Selected awardees receive recognition in one of three levels: 

• To receive the Award of Excellence, the most prestigious of the Those Who Excel honors, educators must have demonstrated a commitment to equity and to the success of all students. They regularly collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create positive school cultures. They are lifelong learners who connect their schools to the community at large and who inspire other education professionals within and beyond their schools.  
• Educators presented with the Award of Meritorious Service have gone above and beyond in service to their school communities. They are experienced educators who take on leadership opportunities and whose accomplishments uplift the culture of learning in their school. They stand as exemplars of their profession and have become integral members of their schools and districts.  
• Educators who receive the Award of Special Recognition are valued members of their school community who have been recognized by their colleagues, students, families, and administrators for the skills, passions, and talents they bring to their school community.   

Additionally, teacher and early career educator candidates can choose to be considered for the Teacher of the Year Cohort. Top-scoring applicants in each of the eight regions of the state and in bilingual, special, and early childhood education receive Regional and Subject-Specific Teacher of the Year Awards and along with the Outstanding Early Career Educator form the Teacher of the Year Cohort:

• Regional Teachers of the Year:
• Cook County Regional Teachers of the Year (Minimum of 3)
• East Central Regional Teacher of the Year
• Far North Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year
• Far South Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year
• Far West Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year
• Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year
• Southern 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 

The Teacher of the Year Cohort and their guests are invited to attend a reception with other members of the Illinois State Teachers of the Year Organization. The tentative date for the 2025 Teacher of the Year Reception is Saturday, March 8. Members of the cohort who have five or more years of teaching experience become finalists for Teacher of the Year and are then interviewed. The recorded interviews are reviewed and scored by a review committee composed of current and former Teachers of the Year. The state superintendent of education makes the final selection of the Teacher of the Year. 

The Teacher of the Year participates in a year-long paid sabbatical, funded by the state, during the school year following their selection as Teacher of the Year. The teacher's school district signs an agreement with the State Board of Education to release the teacher from their duties for the school year and receives reimbursement from the state for the teacher's full salary and benefits for the school year. The teacher will receive all scheduled salary increases, pension contributions and service credit, insurance coverage, and benefits that they would normally receive during that school year.

The Teacher of the Year utilizes their sabbatical year to engage in professional growth and leadership development activities of their choosing; to serve as Illinois' ambassador for the teaching profession, often delivering more than 100 speeches across the state; and representing Illinois in the Council of Chief State School Officers' National Teacher of the Year Program, attending out-of-state conferences and events. The Teacher of the Year receives reimbursement from the state for travel expenses, in accordance with state policies.

Each section of the application -- biography and resume, letters of recommendation, essay response(s) -- is reviewed and evaluated for the following six key competencies. To qualify for Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year awards, the candidate:

• Is an experienced educator and expert in their field.
• Is committed to equity and guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence.
• Collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success.
• Deliberately connects the classroom and community to impact student growth and learning.
• Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning.
• Expresses themselves in an engaging and professional way. 

In addition to the above requirements, the Teacher of the Year also:

• Is currently employed as a full-time classroom teacher in an Illinois school.
• Intends to remain employed in current role for the following two academic years.
• Has a minimum of five years of teaching experience (including current year).
• Has not been named to Teacher of the Year Cohort within the last five years.
• Must be willing and able to fulfill the Illinois Teacher of the Year duties throughout the year-long, paid sabbatical.
• Has verification of school district consent to participate in the year-long sabbatical during the following school year. 
  

Section 1: Applicant Info

This section is not scored and must include:

• Applicant demographic information
• Applicant contact information
• School, district, and community information

Section 2: Professional Biography 

Please submit a short (250 words) professional biography about the applicant. The biography must be written in third person, as it may appear on the ISBE website. Completion of this section means that you agree your biography can be used with TWE&TOY materials. The professional biography must include: 

• Applicant's name 
• Applicant's current job title 
• Applicant's current school 
• Applicant's personal and professional goals 
• Applicant's relevant achievements or accomplishments 
• Applicant's skills and areas of expertise 

Teams should use the above guidance to draft a brief biography about the team, its members, and its function.

Section 3: Resume

Applicant resume should be limited to two pages. Acceptable file types are .csv, .doc, .docx, .odt, .pdf, .rtf, .txt, .wpd, and .wpf.  Please provide a current resume with the following information listed, beginning with the most recent:

• Education; training programs; certifications; and colleges and/or universities attended, including postgraduate studies. Indicate degrees/certifications earned with dates.
• Employment history indicating grade level, subject area, dates and all job responsibilities.
• Professional association memberships, including information regarding offices held and other relevant activities.
• Professional accomplishments.
• School involvement and leadership roles.
• Awards and other recognition of your work.

Teams are not required to submit a resume.​

Section 4: Letters of Recommendation

All applicants will upload letters of recommendation from the following:

• Letter 1: Colleague (on school/district letterhead)
• Letter 2: Direct supervisor, principal, or equivalent administrator (on school/district letterhead)

Teacher of the Year Cohort applicants should submit one additional letter:

• Letter 3: Parent or student 

Content: Each letter should provide evidence that this educator demonstrates each of the following key competencies:

• Exceptional knowledge, expertise, and work performance.
• Commitment to equity and the success of all students.
• Collaboration with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success.
• Positive impact on school and community at large.
• Leadership, innovation, and commitment to duties.
• Positively represent and uplift the image of the education profession in their school and community.

Please provide detailed, specific examples based on your interactions with this educator, which might include (but are not limited to): 

• Stories or anecdotes
• Qualitative or quantitative data points
• Projects or initiatives
• Strengths or skills
• Achievements within classroom, school, or community at large

Specifications: Each letter should be no more than two pages, single-spaced, line space between paragraphs, 12-point font, and signed by original author. The person making the recommendation should include their full name, email address, and phone number in their letter for follow-up.

Section 5: Essay Response

Applicants will upload a minimum of one essay. Teachers and early career educators who choose to be considered for the Teacher of the Year Cohort must submit two additional essays. Essays should be no more than 750 words each and should include evidence of student impact. It is recommended that applicants save responses in a format that allows for copying/pasting into the online application to ensure responses are not lost if there is an error in the submission process.

Essay 1 (All applicants)

• What is your defining accomplishment as an educator, school professional, or team?&
• How have you ensured students of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and identities are successful and created culture in your classroom or school?
• Describe specific ways in which you or your team deliberately connect your students with the community.
• Tell us about how you or your team collaborate with others, lead in tough times, and act as an integral part of your larger school community.

Essay 2 (Only required for Teacher of the Year Cohort applicants)

• Why are you a teacher? Tell us the story of how you entered this profession and why you continue to serve as an educator today.
• Describe lessons, units, or instructional practices that exemplify your beliefs about teaching. Explain how your deliberate instructional decisions impact student learning and success.
• How do you engage students of all backgrounds and abilities in the learning?

Essay 3 (Only required for Teacher of the Year Cohort applicants)

• Describe the ways in which you have served as a teacher leader in your school/district. Describe how your leadership positively impacted students and staff, and the overall culture of your school/district.
• Describe how you have served as an advocate for change to improve outcomes for students.
• If you were selected as part of the next Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort, you would become an official ambassador of the teaching profession in Illinois. What would your message be and why?​​