Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) is now accepting nominations for its Teacher of the Year program.

The district designed the program to honor and recognize excellent teachers.

Past award winners have included Lincoln Middle School’s Chris Hansen, who started an innovative anti-bullying program; Alameda Science and Technology Institute’s Tracy Corbally, who introduced her students to innovative thinking and reading skills; and Island High School’s John Nolan whose uses research-based instructional methods to help at-risk students.

Once nominated, teachers who meet the county and state criteria are invited to participate in the next phase of the process, which requires them to submit an application, including a resume, an introductory letter, and letters of support to the district office.

The AUSD Teacher of the Year selection committee screens applications, observes them in the classroom and interviews the finalists. The Board of Education will formally recognize the winner at its May, 2014 meeting.

The Alameda County Office of Education will honor the winner this fall when he or she also becomes eligible for the county and state Teacher of the Year awards.