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Over the years, OSPI’s Teacher of the Year and Classified School Employee of the Year programs have evolved to be more than a recognition program. It is also a professional development opportunity. When an educator in your school is recognized as excellent, it shines a light on your whole community. It’s an opportunity for someone with credibility to tell the story of your school and district — check out this 2018 TIME article about State Teacher of the Year Camille Jones from Quincy School District!

State winners for the TOY and CSEOY meet with experts and decision makers from across the state. OSPI works with the state winners to discover where their advocacy passion lies and how to work with their district and community to build positive change for students and families.

Washington’s Teacher of the Year program recognizes a cohort of regional finalists and selects one state Teacher of the Year annually. This state Teacher of the Year is Washington’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year.

Washington’s educational service districts each select a Regional Teacher of the Year. The state selection committee chooses one of these Regional Teachers of the Year as the Washington State Teacher of the Year. The state committee uses the written application, interviews, a short keynote, and a mock press interview to decide which candidate best exemplifies the Teacher of the Year criteria:

• The teacher has the respect of their community.
• The teacher is knowledgeable in their field and guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence.
• The teacher collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success.
• The teacher deliberately connects the classroom and key stakeholders to foster a strong community at large.
• The teacher demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embody lifelong learning.
• The teacher expresses themselves in an engaging and effective way.

Mr. Zavala is a 4th-grade Science and Spanish Language Arts teacher at Lewis & Clark Elementary School in the Wenatchee School District. Read his full profile.

The Classified School Employee of the Year (CSEoY) program recognizes one classified employee from each of Washington’s educational service districts every year. A selection committee chooses the state Classified School Employee of the Year from this group of regional finalists. The State Classified School Employee of the Year is Washington’s nominee for the US Department of Education’s national Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) award.

Selection begins at the ESD, where each region selects their Regional Classified School Employee of the Year and forwards that name to the state. Regional Classified School Employees of the Year are evaluated by a state selection committee. Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• The educator’s work is recognized as exceptional, and they have the respect and admiration of their community.
• The educator is committed to professional growth and building deeper connections between schools and communities.
• The educator collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect, success, and care for others.
• The educator is a leader who makes connections between their daily work and student success.

Ms. Babst is a paraeducator in the Developmental Preschool program at Eastmont School District and has been working with Wee Cougars Preschool since 2018. Read her full profile.

• 2023 – Hugo Zavala, Wenatchee SD
• 2022 – Tina Nicpan-Brown, Wenatchee SD
• 2021 – Jacqueline Hentges 2021, Brewster SD
• 2020 – Malia Renner-Singer, Cascade SD
• 2019 – Matt Brown, Manson SD
• 2018 – Jon Magnus, Wenatchee SD
• 2017 – Camille Jones, Quincy SD (Washington State Teacher of the Year)
• 2016 – Ashley Leneway, Lake Chelan SD
• 2015 – Lisa Neitzel-Snyder, Eastmont SD
• 2014 – Matthew Brewer, Soap Lake SD
• 2013 – Barbara Quintasket, Omak SD – Paschal Sherman Indian School
• 2012 – Brad Soliday, Manson SD
• 2011 – Ron Scutt, Stehekin SD
• 2010 – Tom Robinson, Lake Chelan SD
• 2009 – Ted Mack, Moses Lake SD
• 2008 – Ruth Lucero, Warden SD
• 2007 – Mona Asker, Moses Lake SD
• 2006 – Jim Wheeler, Grand Coulee Dam SD
• 2005 – Rosemary Tiffany, Wenatchee SD
• 2004 – Vicki Taylor, Lake Chelan SD
• 2003 – Veronique Paquette, Eastmont SD (Washington State Teacher of the Year)
• 2002 – Cherri Brondstetter, Wenatchee SD
• 2001 – Allison Agnew, Eastmont SD
• 2000 – Dan Reed, Manson SD
• 1999 – Shannon Criss, Ephrata SD
• 1998 – Teresa Goninan, Quincy SD

• 2022 – Kara Babst, Eastmont SD
• 2021 – Adriana Vanbianchi, Methow Valley SD
• 2020 – Rock Witte, Ephrata SD
• 2019 – Martha Wisdom, Tonasket SD (WA State Classified School Employee of the Year)
• 2018 – Avid Castro, Manson SD
• 2017 – Carolyn Griffin-Bugert, Wenatchee SD (WA State Classified School Employee of the Year)
• 2016 – Donna Young, Wenatchee SD
• 2015 – Kristi Meadows, Eastmont SD
• 2014 – Gretchen Mann, Wenatchee SD
• 2013 – Carol Garneau, Moses Lake SD
• 2012 – Rise Wiggins,Warden SD
• 2011 – Paul Allen, Lake Chelan SD
• 2010 – Timmie Linehan, Lake Chelan SD