SHAPE America District and National Teacher of the Year Process:
Required Application Materials
Applications must be submitted online by October 15th of each calendar year (e.g. applications for the 2024 District Teacher of the Year must be submitted by Oct. 15, 2023). District Teachers of the Year will be notified of their selection by SHAPE America in early December of each calendar year.
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- Verification of Teaching Assignment Form
- This document must be from the current school year when applying. This may require individuals to get a new Verification of Teaching form signed by their principal or administrator.
- Award criteria
- When completing the award criteria please use the following format:
- Do not include any identifying information (your name, school name or on school/district letter head).
- Bold the specific criteria as a heading, then outline your qualifications in paragraph form below the bolded criteria heading (see example below). Criteria should be two-pages or less in length, single spaced, typed in size 11 Calibri font.
- Responses to each criterion should be in one Word document. Please do NOT upload each criteria response in a separate Word document.
- Example format for Award Criteria:
- Conducts a comprehensive and diverse physical education program that utilizes the Essential Components of Physical Education as reflected in the SHAPE America National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education and other best practices.
Begin to write your response to criteria prompt 1 in unbold font underneath.
- Conducts a comprehensive and diverse physical education program that utilizes the Essential Components of Physical Education as reflected in the SHAPE America National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education and other best practices.
- Adapted Physical Education Criteria
- Dance Education Criteria
- Health Education Criteria
- Physical Education Criteria (Elementary, Middle School , High School)
- When completing the award criteria please use the following format:
- Verification of Teaching Assignment Form
Please note: Award criteria were updated in 2023. Please be sure you have updated your award criteria responses.
- Head shot (JPEG at 300 dpi minimum) for promotional purposes only. Headshots will not be shared with reviewers.
Letters of recommendation are no longer required at the District Teacher of the Year level.
Rubrics & Scoring
- The same SHAPE America rubrics will be used across all Districts to score applicants.
- Applicants who teach in a Title I school or in a school where more than 40% of students receive free and reduced meals will receive an extra four points on their total score.
- A minimum score must be met by any candidate to move on to both the District and National level (80% of total possible points, which excludes points awarded for teaching at a Title I school).
District Teacher of the Year Review Timeline
- October 15: State Teacher of the Year recipients submit application materials to SHAPE America via the online application.
- December 1: Deadline for the District Teacher of the Year reviewers to submit scores.
- By December 20: District Teacher of the Year applicants are notified of selections by SHAPE America.
- SHAPE America National Convention & Expo: District Teachers of the Year are celebrated and National Teacher of the Years are announced at the Closing General Session.
