Delaware will celebrate 20 outstanding educators on Oct. 13 and announce which one will serve as the state’s 2027 Teacher of the Year.

Districts and the Delaware Charter Network nominated the teachers during the 2026 calendar year. The nominees were recognized for their ability to inspire a love of learning, their exemplary professional qualities and their dedication to teaching.

The selection process begins with a five-essay application. Five Delaware Department of Education staff members and five former state teachers of the year independently review the applications. A former state teacher of the year and a department staff member then observe each candidate in the classroom. An independent panel of judges from outside the department considers the application and observation scores, along with a recorded presentation from each nominee, before recommending one teacher to the Secretary of Education.

The teacher selected as Delaware’s 2027 Teacher of the Year will also become the state’s nominee for the national Teacher of the Year program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the Voya Foundation.

Through action of the General Assembly, the state Teacher of the Year will receive a $5,000 grant for the educational benefit of their students and a $3,000 personal grant. Each of the other nominees will receive a $2,000 state grant.

The Oct. 13 celebration at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The Teacher of the Year announcement will close the evening. The event will be livestreamed following the dinner portion of the evening with an estimated start time of 7:15 p.m. A grant from Voya Financial and support from the Delaware General Assembly fund the award ceremony.

Meet the 2027 District/Charter Teachers of the Year here.

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