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The Premier's Awards for Teaching Excellence recognize educators and staff who excel at supporting and inspiring Ontario's students and young children to realize their full potential.

Who is eligible?

• For Teacher of the Year, New Teacher of the Year, Excellent Support Staff, Excellence in Leadership, Lifetime Achievement and Team of the Year Awards: Anyone who is employed by a publicly funded school board/authority in Ontario.
• For the Early Childhood Educator of the Year Award: All registered early childhood educators who are employed in licensed early childhood or child care settings in Ontario.
• For the Full-Day Kindergarten Team of the Year Award: A team comprised of a registered early childhood educator and a teacher who are employed in a full-day kindergarten class in a publicly funded elementary school in Ontario.

Do you know a person or a team who:

• helps and motivates disengaged or struggling students to overcome difficult challenges and succeed.
• builds strong relationships with parents and the education community to help students learn.
• encourages children, youth and colleagues to explore new possibilities, take risks, and solve problems in a creative way.
• helps students to succeed in school and in life and to reach their full potential.
• uses innovative teaching methods.
• leads a project that transforms a school, child care centre or board.
• helps students connect to the world of work and partners with the community to find opportunities that expand students' experiences into the world outside the school.
• is outstanding at improving students' reading and writing skills and inspiring a love of reading.
• makes all children and youth feel welcome and take pride in their cultural identity by fostering an environment of equity and respect by recognizing Ontario's many cultures.
• makes math relevant and empowers students to be competent and confident in mathematics.
• builds students' environmental knowledge and perspectives, and helps them become environmentally responsible citizens.
• inspires children and students to be good citizens by teaching them the importance of social justice and encouraging them to think both locally and globally.
• improves community life by linking students, parents and the community toward a common goal.
• is an outstanding role model to colleagues, leads by example, builds on success, and inspires others to overcome challenges.
• demonstrates a thorough knowledge and understanding of early child development.
• provides an engaging learning environment that stimulates young children's learning and growth.
• plans and delivers innovative activities for young children appropriate to their age and abilities.
• builds on a child's interests and curiosity and helps them to find new opportunities to learn

These are just a few of the ways that Ontario's educators and support staff make a difference in the lives of students, young children, families and communities across the province. But they aren't the only ways. You might have your own reasons for nominating someone. Share your stories.