Delaware Administrative Code
Title 14 - Education
200 - Administration and Operations
235 - Teacher of the Year Award
Section 235-6.0 - Evaluation and Selection of the State Teacher of the Year Award Recipient

6.1.1 Following the submission of portfolios, selected Department staff members and selected former Teachers of the Year shall be assigned in pairs to read the portfolios of 2 nominees and observe those nominees in the classroom based on the criteria stipulated in the Teacher of the Year Program Guide that is updated each year.

6.1.2 Another group of Department staff members and former Teachers of the Year shall be assigned to read all portfolios and rate them based on forms found in the Teacher of the Year Program Guide. Based on the numerical ratings from both the portfolio readers and from the observations, 3 nominees shall be identified as finalists for consideration by a panel of judges.

6.1.3 The panel of judges shall include: the current State Teacher of the Year; the President of the State Parent Teacher Association; the President of the Future Educators Association; a member of the State Board of Education; a representative of the Chamber of Commerce; the President of the Delaware State Education Association; and the Chair of the Professional Standards Board or, if necessary, their designees.

6.1.4 The judges shall recommend 1 person for the Secretary of Education to declare as the State Teacher of the Year.

6.1.5 The final selection of the state Teacher of the Year Award recipient is made solely at the discretion of the Secretary of Education and the Secretary's decision shall be final.