GEORGIA’S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR PROGRAM

Celebrating outstanding teachers in the field of early childhood education.

Awards are made possible through donations to the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning

The purpose of Georgia's Early Childhood Educator of the Year program is to recognize and honor the outstanding contributions of early childhood educators who demonstrate exceptional dedication, skill, and passion in fostering the development and well-being of young children. This program aims to celebrate the pivotal role early educators play in shaping the future of Georgia's children, promoting high-quality educational practices, and inspiring a continued commitment to excellence within the field of early childhood education. Through this recognition, the program strives to elevate the profession, highlight innovative teaching methods, and encourage a culture of continuous growth and improvement in early learning environments across the state of Georgia.

CLICK FOR NOMINATION FORM

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is seeking nominations for the annual Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year Program to include educators who work with the following age groups:

Infants (0-15 months)
Toddlers (15-36 months)
Preschool (36-48 months)
Private Pre-K (48-60 months)
Family Child Care (0-48 months)

Please note that Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers are not eligible for this program. If you are interested in Georgia’s Pre-K Teacher of the Year, please visit the webpage here.

The top six finalists will each receive $500 for their personal use, and the top three winners will receive an additional:

$3,000 for their personal use,
$2,000 for a classroom makeover, and
Up to $2,500 for their school to cover travel expenses and stipends for substitute teachers as the teacher fulfills their duties of a Georgia’s Early Childhood Educator of the Year around the state.

If you are a child care administrator, parent of a child in a child care program, or a colleague of an outstanding early childhood teacher, consider nominating them for Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year program. If you are an Early Childhood Teacher or Family Child Care Provider dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young children, please consider nominating yourself for the Early Childhood Educators of the Year program.

To be considered for this honor, Family Child Care Providers and Child Care Learning Center Teachers must meet the following criteria:  

Be currently employed as a lead teacher in the age group for which they are being nominated at a licensed 2- or 3-star Quality Rated childcare provider that is in good standing with all programs administered by DECAL or be a family child care provider with 50 percent of current enrollment of children between the ages of 0-48 months.
Have a minimum of three years of experience as a lead teacher or family child care provider.
Plan to continue as a lead teacher or family child care provider in the 2025-2026 school year.
Hold an approved credential in the field of early childhood education or a related field (CDA, TCC, TCD, AA, BS, or Ed.).
Be willing to participate in an interview and a classroom evaluation (if selected as a finalist).
Be willing to serve as an ambassador for Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year program, including public speaking engagements and activities related to modeling effective classroom practices (if selected as a winner).
Be able and willing to travel as needed, including some overnight stays (travel expenses will be reimbursed) (if selected as a winner).

Nomination Requirements and Information

Nominations for Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year program must be completed by a program administrator, co-worker or parent of a child in a child care program. Once the nomination window closes, family providers and child care program administrators will be contacted to complete a formal application via Survey Monkey Apply. Handwritten applications will not be considered, reviewed, or scored. Finalists and winners will be chosen by an expert panel. Three early educators will be chosen regardless of age group category.

Nomination Submission

Please complete the nomination application using the SurveyMonkey link above. All nominations must be submitted on or before June 30, 2025.

For questions about Educator of the Year applications, contact the Practice and Support Services Unit at DECAL at PSSinfo@decal.ga.gov