Now Accepting 2026 Rural Teacher of The Year Nominations! Due April 14
The Arizona Rural Schools Association has been privileged to honor educators from around the state that are making an impact in their rural communities. We are pleased to continue this tradition of recognizing excellence!
Nomination Process:
Rural teachers can be nominated by a community member, student, co-worker, school or district administrator, or county leader through an online nomination form. To be considered for the award and continue on with the Teacher of the Year (TOY) process, the candidate must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Full time certified teacher working in a rural school in Arizona. These schools must be a state-accredited or a Bureau of Indian Education rural institution.
- Teacher of Record in any content area for grades Preschool through 12th Grade.
- Minimum of three years of completed teaching experience in a rural school setting.
- Under contract with a rural school district for the 2026-2027 school year.
The Deadline for Nominations will be 12:00 a.m. April 14, 2026.
All teacher candidates that meet the qualifications will be sent an online application that must be completed and submitted once nominated to be considered for one of the Ten Finalists. Teachers that receive multiple Nominations will fill out a single Application. To be considered for the ARSA Rural Teacher of the Year for 2026, the Application must be completed by April 14, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Greg Wyman, ARSA Executive Director, at execdir@azruralschools.org.