Charter School Teachers of the Year
Celebrating Excellence in Teaching
The Charter School Teachers of the Year program recognizes educators who demonstrate exceptional instructional practice, inspire students, and make meaningful contributions to their school communities.
Charter schools that do not participate in a local school district's Teachers of the Year program may nominate outstanding teachers for consideration. Following a competitive review process, one charter school educator is selected to represent Orange County charter schools in the Orange County Teachers of the Year program.
Program Goals
The Charter School Teachers of the Year program is designed to:
- Provide eligible charter school teachers with access to the Orange County Teachers of the Year program.
- Recognize outstanding teaching and instructional excellence in Orange County charter schools.
- Select one charter school nominee to advance to the Orange County Teachers of the Year program.
Eligibility
To be eligible for nomination, a teacher must:
- Be nominated by their charter school employer.
- Teach a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 curriculum to children or adults.
- Hold a valid California teaching credential.
- Be employed full time at a charter school authorized by an Orange County school district or the Orange County Board of Education during the 2026–27 school year and intend to continue teaching during the 2027–28 school year.
- Have completed eight years of fully credentialed teaching by March 2027.
- Not have previously been nominated to a California county or state Teachers of the Year program.
Selection Process
Charter school nominees must submit an application via their charter school employer. Charter schools should establish their own processes for selecting exemplary teachers to nominate to the program.
To evaluate the applications and select a charter school nominee to advance to the Orange County Teachers of the Year program for consideration as a county finalist, the Governance, Leadership and Community Partnerships 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.
Charter School Nominations
Each participating charter school is responsible for selecting its nominee(s) through its own local process.
The number of teachers a charter school may nominate is based on the school's full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching staff.
- 1-49 teachers: 1 nominee
- 50-99 teachers: 2 nominees
- 100+ teachers: 3 nominees
Selection Process
Following submission, applications are reviewed by a selection committee convened by the Governance, Charter and Family Support Services Division. Committee members include educators, administrators, and community partners who evaluate each application using established selection criteria and scoring rubrics.
One charter school nominee is selected to advance to the Orange County Teachers of the Year program.
Application Submission
A complete Charter School Teachers of the Year application packet for each nominee must be submitted by the nominating charter school no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2026.
Applications should be emailed to: jalderissi@ocde.us
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| October 30, 2026 | Charter schools submit Intent to Participate form |
| December 4, 2026 | Charter schools select nominee(s). Nominees complete the Charter School Teachers of the Year application. |
| January 2027 | Charter schools submit completed nomination packets. The selection committee reviews applications and selects the charter school nominee. |
| February 2027 | The selected nominee completes the Orange County Teachers of the Year application. OCDE submits the county application for consideration. |
| October-November 2027 | The Charter School Teacher of the Year is recognized during the Orange County Teachers of the Year recognition program. |
Questions
Felipe Vasquez, Coordinator, (714) 966-4370
Jacqueline Alderissi, Executive Assistant, (714) 966-4381