53rd Annual Teacher of the Year

 

Beginning in 1973, Ventura County began recognizing outstanding teachers. The program results in the annual selection of one teacher countywide who reflects the diversity of our teachers and students. The process pays tribute to Ventura County's teaching force, the complexity of challenges that confront our schools, and the need to promote collaboration and teamwork to meet those challenges.

The purpose of the Teachers of the Year Program is to pay tribute to the tireless efforts of our county's outstanding teachers. In doing so, the program brings deserved recognition to the hard working, innovative members of the teaching profession.

Eligibility to the Ventura County Educator of the Year Program is limited to candidates who have been submitted to the Ventura County Office of Education by a school district, charter school, private school, or professional organization and that meet any of the following criteria: Fully credentialed teachers in public or private schools who teach any of pre-kindergarten through grade twelve; Library media teachers who collaboratively plan and teach with classroom teachers; Teachers of adults who provide instruction in the same curriculum as those who teach in elementary or secondary grades; Instructors who have some administrative responsibilities for whom teaching is the applicant's primary responsibility.

Ventura county educators have enjoyed tremendous success at the state level.

2023 Ventura County Teacher of the Year

Debbie Dogancay

Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, is pleased to announce that Debbie Dogancay from Newbury Park High School (NPHS) in the Conejo Valley Unified School District is the 2023 Ventura County Teacher of the Year. Dogancay found out about the honor today when a group of local education officials made a surprise visit to a school faculty meeting.

Read More

 

 
 

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility to the Ventura County Teacher of the Year Program is limited to candidates who have been submitted to the Ventura County Office of Education by a school district, charter school, private school, or professional organization and that meet any of the following criteria:

• Already selected as a school district, charter school, private school, or professional organization Teacher of the Year within Ventura County.
• Fully credentialed Teachers in public or private schools who teach any of pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.
• Teachers of adults who provide instruction in the same curriculum as those who teach in elementary or secondary.
• Teachers who have some administrative responsibilities for whom teaching is the applicant's primary responsibility.

 

2024 Application Packet
*Application Packets will only be accepted by a school district, charter school, private school, or professional organization and the candidate must meet the criteria above.

 


2024 Ventura County Teacher of the Year Timeline:

Date

Activity

 March

Ventura County Office of Education distributes Teacher of the Year Application to Participating districts, charter schools, private schools, and professional organizations.

 March – April

Participating districts, charter schools, private schools, and professional organizations conduct their selection and recognition processes to select County finalists.

 May 10, 2024 by 4:00pm

Deadline for Participating districts, charter schools, private schools, and professional organizations to submit applications to the Ventura County Office of Education. Email application to Jennifer Gorin at jgorin@vcoe.org

 Mid May

County selection committee reviews Teacher of the Year applications. Site visits to be determined by the Selection Committee.

 Mid May

Selection committee presents Ventura County Teacher of the Year to the County Superintendent.

 End of May

Ventura County Teacher of the Year is announced at the recipient’s school site, and a press release is issued from the Ventura County Office of Education.

 Tentative:
 July 26, 2024 by 4:00pm

Deadline for Ventura County Teacher of the Year to submit application to the Ventura County Office of Education to be reviewed and mailed to the California Department of Education by VCOE.

 September

The state selection committee, made up of Teachers, administrators, and organization representatives, reviews applications.

 September - October

County offices of education are contacted to arrange site visits for selected applicants.

 October

Site visits are conducted by a team of Teacher-observers.

 October - November

Selected applicants are interviewed by a state selection committee that includes the State Superintendent of Public Instruction or his designee.

 November

State Superintendent of Public Instruction makes the final decisions and personally notifies the California Teachers of the Year.

 November

The California Department of Education publicly announces 2024 California Teachers of the Year in a news release.

 December

California Teachers of the Year meet at the California Department of Education in Sacramento to be photographed and to learn more about their role as statewide representatives of the profession.

 December

The Council of Chief State School Officers is notified of California’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year program.

 February

California Teachers of the Year and semi-finalists are honored at a special reception and dinner in Sacramento hosted by the California Department of Education, the California Teachers of the Year Foundation, and sponsors.

 

 
 
 

View Past Ventura County Teacher of the Year Recipients