The Awards are Open!
Calling all Participate Learning Ambassador Teachers and U.S. partner teachers!
We are so excited to announce the 2026 Participate Learning Teacher of the Year Awards! Our annual awards recognize three teachers in the Participate Learning Network who have shown an exceptional commitment to their students and school community, and have exemplified our shared mission to create global, cultural, and language experiences that empower students and educators to positively impact and thrive in the world.
The 2026 Teacher of the Year Awards are open to:
- All Participate Learning Ambassador Teachers.
- U.S. teachers in partner schools that implement our Participate Learning Global Leaders framework and/or a Dual Language Program.
Applicants should show your commitment to teaching global perspectives in your classroom and your dedication to the Participate Learning mission by sharing examples of:
Connections
- For Ambassador Teachers—Connections with your students, colleagues at school, your community, fellow members of the Participate Learning Network, and beyond.
- For Global Leaders teachers—How your relationships with students, colleagues, your local community, the Participate Learning Network, and broader partners strengthen and advance global education within and beyond your school.
Global and Cultural Experiences
- How you intentionally connect students to the world by helping them explore global challenges, learn from cultures in the United States and from around the world, recognize the cultures represented in your classroom, and/or develop global competencies through meaningful instruction.
- U.S. and global cultural experiences you embrace for your own personal and professional growth.
Leadership
- Leading initiatives, groups, or committees within your grade level, school, or district.
- Contributing to the Participate Learning Network by sharing knowledge, supporting fellow educators, or serving in leadership roles.
- Engaging in other leadership opportunities in your community and beyond.
Learning
- Professional development opportunities that advance your own learning.
- Creative global and/or language learning experiences that you provide for your students.
- Innovative global and/or language learning experiences that prepare students to be career- and future-ready and globally competitive.
Throughout your application, also highlight examples of how you:
- Embrace the global competencies and the global issues.
- Impact students, colleagues, your community, the Participate Learning Network, and beyond.
- For Dual Language Program teachers: implement the dual language teaching practices in accordance with your school’s specified model.
Eligibility
Ambassador Teachers
- All applicants must be a member of at least one Participate Learning community of practice.
- All applicants must be active 1st-5th term Ambassador Teachers during the current 2025-26 school year.
- All applicants must be in good standing as J-1 visa holders with Participate Learning.
- Applicants must be in good standing at their school and district.
- Applicants in their 1st–4th terms must be planning to renew their teaching commitment for the 2026-27 school year.
U.S. Partner Teachers
- All applicants must be a member of at least one Participate Learning community of practice.
- Applicants must currently teach in a partner school implementing the Participate Learning Global Leaders framework and/or a Dual Language Program.
- Applicants must have a minimum of three years of teaching experience in K-12 classrooms.
- Applicants must intend to renew their teaching commitment at their current school for the 2026-27 school year.
- Applicants must be in good standing at their school/district.
Timeline
The timeline for applications and all award announcements is as follows:
- Nomination Deadline
- Monday, March 16, 2026 by midnight—If you are interested in nominating a Participate Learning partner teacher to apply for the awards, your nomination form must be submitted by this date.
- Interest Deadline
- Sunday, March 22, 2026 by midnight—In order to apply for the awards, you must complete the interest form by this date. This includes:
- Teachers who are interested in entering the awards.
- Teachers who have been nominated and who are interested in entering the awards.
- Sunday, March 22, 2026 by midnight—In order to apply for the awards, you must complete the interest form by this date. This includes:
- Finalist Notifications—Finalists will be notified on or before Friday, April 10, 2026.
- Finalist Course Submissions Due—Sunday, April 19, 2026.
- Award Winner Announcements—Winners will be announced in the Participate Learning communities of practice after Monday, May 11, 2026.
Awards Package
Winners of the 2026 Participate Learning Teacher of the Year awards will receive:
- A $1,000 check for your personal use.
- A new Apple laptop.
- A commemorative framed certificate.
Over the course of their one-year tenure as a 2026 Participate Learning Teacher of the Year, winners will commit to advancing global education by:
- Creating learning experiences that foster the global competencies and other key skills for success in an interconnected world.
- Equipping students with the knowledge and skills to be career- and future- ready.
Winners may also have opportunities to:
- Engage in professional development experiences.
- Share their innovative teaching practices and experiences with members of the Participate Learning Network.
Are you ready to apply or nominate a Participate Learning Ambassador Teacher or U.S. teacher from one of our partner schools that implement the Participate Learning Global Leaders framework and/or a Dual Language Program?
Click below to fill out the Interest and Nomination Form and learn more about the next steps!
Please email Juliana Deitch with any questions.