Official Site of The State of New Jersey

2026-2027 Timelines

School Level

• 9/9/26 – Expected GEOY launch date
• 9/9/26 to 11/27/26 – Teacher & Educational Services Professional of the Year nomination & selection process
• 12/4/26 – Last day for principal to upload their School Information Form & register Teacher & Educational Services Professional of the Year in the GEOY online form
• 12/7/26 – New Jersey Department of Education emails all principals who registered GEOY recipients to remind them to notify all nominees no later than 12/11/26
• 12/11/26 – Last day for principals to notify all nominees of their Teacher & Educational Services Professional of the Year status
• 12/16/26 - New Jersey Department of Education emails all Teachers of the Year to encourage them to apply for County Teacher of the Year using Survey Monkey online application platform
• 12/18/26 –County Teacher of the Year online application system opens 
• 1/29/27 – Deadline for County Teacher of the Year online application online submission as County Teacher of the Year online application system closes at 3 PM

County Level

• 2/5/27 – County Offices receive online applications
• 2/5/27 to 3/19/27 – County Teacher of the Year selection process
• 3/22/27 – New Jersey Department of Education receives County Teacher of the Year Nominee Information Form
• 4/2/27 – Last day for County Offices of Education to notify all applicants their County Teacher of the Year status

State Level

• 4/5/27 – New Jersey Department of Education emails County Teachers of the Year video application instructions to compete for State Teacher of the Year
• 4/14/27 – County Teacher of the Year Virtual Meet & Greet 
• 5/21/27 – County Teachers of the Year submit videos (showcase & STOY) to NJDOE
• 5/26/27 to 7/2/27 – State Teacher of the Year selection process
  
  • 5/26/27 – applications/videos emailed to panel
  • 7/2/27 – deadline for panel scores to be emailed
  • 7/9/27 – deadline to determine STOY finalists
• 7/12/27 – New Jersey Department of Education emails all County Teachers of the Year their finalist status (finalists given mini-keynote details to prepare)
• 7/21/27 – State Teacher of the Year Finalists deliver mini-keynote & interview to state level selection panel
• 8/9/27 – Virtual County Teacher of the Year Media Training
• 8/10/27 – County Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony & Announcement