New Jersey Department of Education

Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

County Teacher of the Year Online Application Components

Please use this only as a guide to demonstrate what information the County Teacher of the Year online application will be requiring of you in order to submit an application.

Components Requirements
Applicant Contact Information This section will require you to enter the following information: GEOY ID#, Staff Member ID#, Name, Address, Phone & Email (note: ask your principal for your GEOY ID# and Staff Member ID# if you don’t know them) Applicant Information Form
Applicant Information Form This section will require you to enter the following information: County, District, School, School Address, School Phone, Years of Teaching Experience, Current Teaching Position, Grade Level(s) Teaching & Most Current Final Summative Rating Evaluation Score

Principal Supporting Evidence & Certification

 The principal will need to endorse, certify the candidate, and upload one letter of recommendation to complete this section.  The letter must be on official letterhead and signed, from either the principal or the candidate’s supervisor, which supports why this candidate should be a County and/or State Teacher of the Year (pdf format only).

The letter should speak to the following that the candidate:

  • Is an expert in their field who guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve success
  • Collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school climate of respect & success
  • Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls
Superintendent Certification The superintendent will need to complete this section to endorse and certify the candidate.
Professional History

This section will ask the candidate to fill in the following information, starting with most recent:

  • Colleges and universities attended including postgraduate studies. Indicate degrees earned, dates of attendance and specify if it was a traditional or alternate route teaching training program
  • Teaching employment history indicating time period, grade level, and subject areas
  • Professional association memberships including information regarding offices held and other relevant activities
  • Current & past professional development opportunities
  • Staff development leadership activities and leadership activities
  • Awards and other recognition you have received
Professional Biography Form

Answer the following prompt in 750 words or less:

What were the factors that influenced you to become a teacher? Describe what you consider to be your greatest contributions and accomplishments in education. Please include any compelling information.
Teaching Style Form

Answer the following prompt in 750 words or less:

Describe your personal feelings and beliefs about teaching, including your own ideas of what makes you an outstanding teacher. How do you ensure that your students are connected to the world around them? Describe a lesson that defines you as a teacher where you engage students of all backgrounds and abilities in the learning. Please include evidence of student impact.
Message Form

Answer the following prompt in 750 words or less:

As a County/State Teacher of the Year, you serve as an ambassador for teachers and students. What would be your message, both to educators in the profession and the general public and why?
Educational Leadership Form

Answer the following prompt in 750 words or less:

To what extent have you served in the role as a teacher leader? In this role, please select one project or initiative that you have been involved with that has made a big impact on the overall school/district culture. What was your role and how did you collaborate with others (colleagues, students, families) in this work?
Candidate Certification Statement The candidate will need to complete this section, only after all other sections have been marked complete in the online application, to certify their application is true and accurate.

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