Teachers of the Year

Our foundation is proud to support the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Program.

Each year, five outstanding educators are honored with this prestigious recognition. Public school recipients of the Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship automatically become candidates for the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year (TOY) program. From this distinguished group, a state selection committee chooses five Teachers of the Year. A review committee then interviews these five educators to determine Wisconsin’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year program.

Each Teacher of the Year receives additional monetary awards, and Wisconsin’s national representative earns an additional prize.

While Teachers of the Year continue to teach in their classrooms, they also serve as ambassadors for public education across Wisconsin. They are celebrated at special ceremonies, engage in professional development as a cohort, and participate in statewide educational initiatives. Throughout their year of recognition—and in the years that follow—their expertise, passion, and leadership are showcased and channeled into meaningful contributions through the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Council.