Program Information

The Private School Teachers of the Year (TOY) program is administered by the Orange County Department of Education Educational Services division to select a nominee for the Orange County Teachers of the Year​ program. Each private school may nominate one or two teachers (depending on school size).

The program's goals are to:

• Promote exemplary teachers from Orange County private schools. 
  
• Encourage the participation of teachers employed by private schools in the Orange County Teachers of the Year program.
  
• Create access to the county recognition program and application process for those teachers who cannot participate in their local school district program.
  
• Identify one exemplary teacher to nominate for the Orange County Teachers of the Year program.
  

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the 2025​ Private School TOY program, teachers must submit an application via their private school employer and must meet the following criteria:

• Teach any pre-kindergarten through grade twelve curriculum to children or adults.
• Be a fully credentialed teacher currently employed full-time at an Orange County private school for the 2023-2024 academic year, with intent to teach for the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Have completed eight years of fully credentialed teaching by March 2024.
• Not previously nominated to a Teacher of the Year program in any California county.
  

Selection Process

In order to participate in the Private School TOY program, applicants must submit an application via their private school employer. Private schools should establish their own processes for selecting exemplary teachers to submit to the Private School TOY program. One teacher will be selected as the private school nominee to advance to the Orange County Teachers of the Year program for consideration as a county finalist.

To evaluate submitted applications, the Educational Services division convenes a selection committee consisting of administrators, partner organizations and teachers. Each application received is reviewed and scored based on a rubric and selected by consensus of the selection committee.

Application Submission Information

A complete 2025 Private School TOY application for each selected nominee must be submitted by the nominating private school by 11:59 p.m., Friday, February 9​​​​​​​, 2024​, via electronic mail to twalsh@ocde.us.

Timeline of Activities