The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Every school district is encouraged to nominate one exemplary elementary classroom teacher and one exemplary secondary classroom teacher for this prestigious award. 

Not only does participating in this program demonstrate that your district values exceptional teaching, you will be providing critical professional development opportunities for your nominees. Participants say year after year this program is life-changing and has made them better teachers. 

Principals and superintendents do not submit a nomination entry form identifying their candidate(s) but will be required to approve and sign the nomination form completed by their candidate(s). 

The 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year nomination packet is available here: https://www.ksde.org/Portals/0/Communications/2026%20KTOY%20Nomination%20-%20Updated_8-27-2024.pdf?ver=2024-08-28-092728-817 

While district nominees may begin working on the application now, all nominations must be submitted using KSDE’s Kansas Teacher of the Year online authenticated application program, which is open now and closes Nov. 8.  

Instructions for accessing the online application can be found here https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Fiscal-and-Administrative-Services/Communications-and-Recognition-Programs/Kansas-Teacher-of-the-Year-Awards 

Contact Tamla Miller, tmiller@ksde.org, or (785) 296-4950 for more information or questions.