Educator of the Year Awards

The ATPE Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Awards acknowledge ATPE members who demonstrate exceptional or innovative capabilities in their respective education fields. Each recipient is awarded with a check for $5,000.

The Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Awards are divided into five categories:

• Administrator of the Year
  • Principals and assistant principals
  • Superintendents
• Associate of the Year: Please note—former professionals with five or more years of experience as a professional (teacher of record/contract employee) should not be nominated for or apply under the Associate category.
  • Teacher’s aides
  • Bus drivers
  • Substitute teachers
  • Food service/nutrition employees
  • Custodial staff
  • Secretaries and administrative assistants
• Elementary Teacher of the Year
  • Classroom teachers at the elementary level
  • Elementary-level music, art, and physical education teachers
  • Special education/Life Skills teachers at the elementary level
• Secondary Teacher of the Year
  • Classroom teachers at the secondary level
  • Secondary-level music, art, and physical education teachers and coaches
  • Special education/Life Skills teachers at the secondary level
• Special Services Educator of the Year
  • Counselors
  • Diagnosticians
  • Special education/Life Skills aides
  • ARD specialists
  • Speech therapists and other specialists
  • Technologists

1. Members must be nominated for the award. No self-nominations are allowed.
2. Those wishing to submit a nomination must complete the nomination form, which includes information about the nominee and a narrative outlining why the nominee is being nominated. (This information will be shared with the nominee and the committee.)
3. The ATPE staff will contact nominees regarding the application questions required to complete the nomination process.
4. Nominees for Administrator of the Year must have three or more years of administrative experience prior to the current school year.
   Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year and Special Services Educator of the Year nominees must have five or more years of experience prior to the current school year.
   Associate of the Year nominees must have three or more years of education experience prior to the current school year.
5. All members of a local unit or ISD with a representative currently sitting on the Educator of the Year Committee are ineligible to apply for the award.
6. Members who are employed by a university or college are not eligible to be nominated.
7. If selected as a finalist, the nominee must participate in oral virtual interviews.

A committee of ATPE members is selected each year by the state president and approved by the ATPE Board of Directors. This judging committee will review all applications and select up to three finalists for each category. Following oral virtual interviews, the committee will select the recipients.

Please check back soon for the 2026 ATPE Award nomination forms. Nominations for Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year must be received via the online form no later than Dec. 1, 2025.

Nominees must submit completed applications electronically by midnight Feb. 1, 2026. Emailed PDF files are preferred.

Oral virtual interviews will be held in April 2026.

Nominees will be evaluated on the areas listed below. Written responses and supporting/evidence-based documentation for the Educator of the Year Award is limited to two 8 1/2” x 11” pages and should focus on the achievement areas outlined below. Pages exceeding the limit will not be considered by the judging committee. The supporting documentation must be submitted electronically along with the application form. Faxed or mailed applications will not be accepted.

Administrator of the Year

1. Education Trends: Nominees will briefly describe an educational trend that has shown promise in their school district and how they have successfully implemented that trend.
2. Communication and Leadership: This category focuses on daily interactions with staff and students and how nominees promote effective communication and motivate others.
3. Biography: Nominees will briefly describe any awards or recognitions received and/or any special projects or committees with which they have been involved and describe their greatest professional contribution and/or accomplishment.

Associate of the Year (e.g., educational aide, secretary, bus driver, etc.)

1. Challenges: Nominees will briefly outline one challenge they have faced in their role and how they successfully overcame that challenge.
2. Communication and Leadership: This category focuses on daily interactions with staff and students and how nominees promote effective communication, motivate others, and engage students.
3. Biography: Nominees will briefly describe any awards or recognitions received and/or any special projects or committees with which they have been involved and describe their greatest professional contribution and/or accomplishment.

Special Services Educator of the Year (e.g., diagnostician, librarian, counselor, etc.)

1. Challenges: Nominees will briefly outline one challenge they have faced in their role and how they successfully overcame that challenge.
2. Communication and Leadership: This category focuses on daily interactions with staff and students and how nominees promote effective communication, motivate others, and engage students.
3. Biography: Nominees will briefly describe any awards or recognitions received and/or any special projects or committees with which they have been involved and describe their greatest professional contribution and/or accomplishment.

Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year

1. Education Trends: Nominees will briefly describe an educational trend that has shown promise in their school district and how they have successfully implemented that trend in their classroom.
2. Communication and Leadership: This category focuses on daily interactions with staff and students and how nominees promote effective communication, motivate others, and engage students.
3. Biography: Nominees will briefly describe any awards or recognitions received and/or any special projects or committees with which they have been involved and describe their greatest professional contribution and/or accomplishment.