Teacher & Employee of the Year

Nominees must be current, contracted teachers in grades PK-12 in the Michigan City Area Schools corporation. All certified staff members are eligible (teachers, counselors, instructional coaches, success coaches, social workers, and nurses).

Nominees must be employed by MCAS for at least 3 years at the beginning of their nomination period (October 1, 2025). 

Additionally, the teacher:

• Is an expert in their field who advances growth for students of all backgrounds and abilities.
• Builds collaborative relationships with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of equity and success.
• Connects the classroom to the community to impact student growth and learning.
• Is a lifelong learner and teacher leader who utilizes innovation to create learning experiences within and beyond the classroom.
• Serves as a role model for other teachers in the corporation, school, department, and/or grade-level team.

Previous school finalists are ineligible for 3 years from their recognition.

Nominees must be current, contracted employees in the Michigan City Area Schools corporation. Administrative/district management staff are not eligible. (Note: School-level Food Service managers are eligible beginning with the October 2024 nomination cycle.)

Nominees must be employed by MCAS for at least 3 years at the beginning of their nomination period (October 1, 2025) and have no disciplinary actions over the past year. 

Additionally, the employee:

• Is an expert in their field.
• Demonstrates a positive, can-do attitude.
• Has positive relationships with colleagues, students, and families.
• Serves as a role model for others in the corporation, school, or department.

Previous winners at the district level are ineligible for 3 years from their recognition. (Previous winners at the school level are still eligible.)

Each school will select a teacher to represent their building from among the nominations received for that building. The process for selecting the teacher will be a vote by all school staff.

School nominees for Teacher of the Year will be asked prior to the vote if they are willing to be on the ballot. They must complete a brief application questionnaire to be listed on the school ballot, and if they win at the school level they must also be willing to submit an application packet to the district and then to the IDOE if they are ultimately selected as the MCAS Teacher of the Year. (Reference: 2025 TOY Application)

All school winners will be selected by December 19, 2025. Principals will publicly announce/celebrate building winners by the end of January. 

School winners will be asked to submit an application for MCAS Teacher of the Year by March 3, 2026.

A selection committee, which may be made up of MCAS Administration, teachers, students, parents, community members, and past winners, will review applications and interview finalists during the month of March to select winners for MCAS Elementary Teacher of the Year (representing PK-6) and MCAS Secondary Teacher of the Year (7-12). 

Two teachers will be selected as MCAS Teachers of the Year – One elementary (PK-6) and one secondary (7-12) – and the winner will be announced in April.

The MCAS Teachers of the Year will submit applications to the IDOE by July 1, 2026, for the Indiana Teacher of the Year program.

Each school will select one Education Support Professional (IA, Para, EAP, Secretary, or Lifeguard) from among the nominations received for that building. The process for selecting the support staff employee will be a vote by all school staff. 

School nominees for Support Staff Employee of the Year will be asked prior to the vote if they are willing to be on the ballot. They must complete a brief application questionnaire to be listed on the school ballot.

All school selections will be made by December 19, 2025. Principals will publicly announce/celebrate building winners by the end of January. 

A district winner will be selected by a committee which may be made up of: MCESP members, retiree/community members, administrators, and previous winners. The winner will be announced in April.

A Transportation Selection Committee (MCCA representative, Transportation Director, Social Committee member, and Law Enforcement Officer) will select up to 5 finalists from among all bus drivers, monitors, and other classified Transportation staff nominated. The process for selecting the winner will be a vote by all Transportation staff districtwide. Nominees for Transportation Staff Employee of the Year will be asked prior to the vote if they are willing to be on the ballot; they must complete a brief application questionnaire to be listed on the ballot. The finalists will be announced/celebrated by the end of January. 

The district winner will be announced in April.

A Food Service Selection Committee (MCCA representative, Food Service Director, and District Food Service Administrators) will select up to 5 finalists from among the Food Service staff nominated. The process for selecting the winner will be a vote by all Food Service staff districtwide. Nominees for Food Service Employee of the Year will be asked prior to the vote if they are willing to be on the ballot; they must complete a brief application questionnaire to be listed on the ballot. The finalists will be announced/celebrated by the end of January. 

The district winner will be announced in April.