School News

Nominations Open for Washington Post Teacher, Principal of the Year

Nomination period closes Oct. 18

Photo: iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages

ALEXANDRIA, VA-Have a favorite ACPS teacher or principal? You can nominate him or her for The Washington Post’s Teacher and Principal of the Year awards. Nominations are being accepted until Friday, Oct. 18. Students, ACPS staff, ACPS families, and Alexandria residents are all eligible to submit candidates.

Below are the instructions to submit a nomination, according to the latest edition of ACPS Express.

  • To nominate a teacher: Send a written statement of support by Oct. 18, 2024, to the principal at the teacher’s school. Each principal, in partnership with the staff, then selects one nominee from their school to go on to the ACPS finalists round. The Teacher Of The Year for all schools will be announced in November.
  • To nominate a principal: Please send a statement of support by Oct. 18, 2024, to Sherri Tullia of the Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership at [email protected]. The Principal Of The Year will be announced in the spring.

Teacher Eligibility 

To be eligible, teachers are required to be full-time educators, instructing students in pre-k through 12th grade. They must be employed by an accredited school in the metro area. Five years of experience is required for consideration, including three in their current school system. Nominees must meet the following criteria:

  • Instill in students a desire to learn and achieve
  • Understand the individual needs of students, encourage their talents and foster their self-esteem
  • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of subject matter and the ability to share it effectively with students
  • Foster cooperative relationships with their colleagues and the community
  • Demonstrate outstanding leadership
  • Maintain their teaching position throughout the 2024-25 school year

Principal Eligibility 

To be eligible, principals are required to be full-time principals in schools that instruct students in pre-k through 12th grade. They must be employed by an accredited school in the metro area. Five years of experience as a principal is required for consideration, including three in their current school system. Nominees must meet the following criteria:

  • Manage effectively
  • Demonstrate and encourage creativity and innovation
  • Foster cooperation between the school and the community
  • Maintain a continuing dialogue with students and parents as well as faculty and staff
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field of education
  • Encourage team spirit
  • Demonstrate leadership and exemplify commitment
  • Continue to play an active role in the classroom
  • Maintain their position as principal throughout the 2024-25 school year

The Post will announce the winners in April of 2025. Prior to the announcement, an ACPS panel will select will its own Teacher and Principal of the Year. These individuals will then be entered as finalists for the Post’s awards.

SEE ALSO: Nats Fall to Philly, Feet Short of Victory in Season Finale

Kevin Dauray

Kevin is Publisher's Assistant with The Zebra Press. He has been working for Alexandria's "Good News" newspaper since 2019. A graduate of George Mason University, he earned a bachelor's in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. He also studied at the Columbia School of Broadcasting and holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University. He is an alumnus of T.C. Williams High School. Go Titans!

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