The Louisiana Department of Education in partnership with Dream Teachers  recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional educators through the New Teacher of the Year program . This program provides an opportunity to acknowledge those new teachers who are already demonstrating excellence in the classroom. Their commitment to student success exemplifies Louisiana’s teaching profession.

An exemplary candidate for New Teacher of the Year is one who:

• Demonstrates excellence and expertise in the field, guiding students (and for principals, also teachers) of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve success.

•  Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the school building walls and helps students/education stakeholders be successful.

• Builds collaborative relationships with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture that is respectful, inclusive, and positively impacts student growth and learning.

• Deliberately connects the classroom/school to the community to positively impact the students, school and community. 

• Is inspiring, compelling, professional and expresses themselves in an engaging and clear way, and has the ability to connect with and represent the state.

Qualifications 

• On the application deadline, teacher has less than one year of full time teaching experience.

• Teaches full time in a publicly funded school in Louisiana