The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) recently launched both the Teacher of the Year and the Classified School Employee of the Year programs.

The programs are designed to honor and recognize excellent teachers and school employees working for AUSD. This is a unique opportunity to provide well-deserved recognition for the whole teaching profession, as well as for the distinguished teachers that are nominated.

Students, parents, community members and school employees can nominate a teacher from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade or a teacher of adults who provide instruction in the same curriculum as those who teach in elementary or secondary grades.

For school employee of the year, employees can only be nominated from the following categories: child nutrition (e.g., cook or cafeteria worker); maintenance, operations and facilities (e.g., custodians, tradespeople, and technology support staff); office and technical (e.g., school site secretaries, office managers, and accountants); para-educator and instructional assistance (e.g., paraprofessionals and teacher assistants); and support services and security (e.g., campus supervisors, payroll technicians, and health aides). Nominees need to have worked in their category for at least five years.

Anyone can nominate a teacher or school employee. The deadline to nominate a teacher is March 11. The deadline to nominate school staff is March 25.

Maya Lin School second- and third-grade teacher Brian Dodson was named the AUSD Teacher of the Year in 2020. There was no teacher of the year in 2021.

To nominate a teacher or staff member or for more information, visit www.alamedaunified.org/employeerecognition.