WELCOME TO THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2026 AWARDS Program
More complete photos, video nominations and the reception's music playlist, select the Reception tab below.
Watch NCM coverage of the Awards Reception -- Click the Media & Press tab to view.
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2025 — Mariah Holmes
2024 — Stephanie Andrews 2023 — Jennifer Orlinksi 2022 — Nora Galvin 2021 — Patricia Kelliher 2020 — Teresa Drummey 2019 — Rachel Siegel 2018 — Joy Hughey 2017 — Cynthia Derrane 2016 — Laura Tolman 2015 — Lindsay Bell 2014 — Dr. Michael Crowley 2013 — Michael Finnerty 2012 — Nora Glynn 2011 — Scott Maffei 2010 — Laurel Cawley 2009 — Debbie Shook 2008 — Kathryn Benson 2007 — Sean Richardson |
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PROGRAM DETAILS, TIPS & TRICKS
We are here to help you successfully participate in the Teacher of the Year Awards Program for 2026. Please carefully read the tips and tricks document below and email the Program Coordinator with any questions you might have.
Good luck!
Please be advised the Teachers Nomination period for this year's program has concluded.
When submitting your nomination, please answer both questions.
In order to help us rate and score your nomination(s), please follow these tips:
Please consider using your personal email for the Announcements List and on your Nomination Form.
The Nominations Committee is receiving numerous bounces and block messages from district-provided email addresses. When emails are rejected and/or bounce back, they are removed from our active mailing and Announcements lists. Please consider using your personal email for the Awards Program.
Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M. and the Nominations Committee do not share or distribute ANY email addresses from the Teacher of the Year Awards Program.
Not so good with writing? Submit your nomination answers via video.
Is it easier for you to submit your nomination via video, rather than by text? Please visit the Video Submissions page and follow the detailed instructions on how to complete your video nomination.
Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M. and the Nominations Committee do not share or distribute ANY email addresses from the Teacher of the Year Awards Program.
We are here to help you successfully participate in the Teacher of the Year Awards Program for 2026. Please carefully read the tips and tricks document below and email the Program Coordinator with any questions you might have.
Good luck!
Please be advised the Teachers Nomination period for this year's program has concluded.
When submitting your nomination, please answer both questions.
In order to help us rate and score your nomination(s), please follow these tips:
- Please answer both questions on the nomination form. Doing this gives more information to properly score and rate your nomination.
- Do not use the same answer for both questions. We are unable to rate and score your nomination. By giving us the same information for both questions, you will only have the answer for one question scored on the judges' rubric. Help your nominee by giving unique information for each of the questions on the form. By using the same answer for both questions, your nomination score could be reduced by as much as 50%.
Please consider using your personal email for the Announcements List and on your Nomination Form.
The Nominations Committee is receiving numerous bounces and block messages from district-provided email addresses. When emails are rejected and/or bounce back, they are removed from our active mailing and Announcements lists. Please consider using your personal email for the Awards Program.
Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M. and the Nominations Committee do not share or distribute ANY email addresses from the Teacher of the Year Awards Program.
Not so good with writing? Submit your nomination answers via video.
Is it easier for you to submit your nomination via video, rather than by text? Please visit the Video Submissions page and follow the detailed instructions on how to complete your video nomination.
Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M. and the Nominations Committee do not share or distribute ANY email addresses from the Teacher of the Year Awards Program.
Click the logo to view NCM's coverage of the Awards Reception.
Teacher of the Year Celebrates 20 Years of Education Recognition
NORWOOD, MA, Mar. 12, 2026 /Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M./
-- The annual educator recognition awards program, Norwood Teacher of the Year, is proud to announce the nominations period for this year’s program is now open. This popular community program celebrates the contributions our town’s educators make for our youth. Originally started by the Exchange Club of Norwood, Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M., Norwood’s Masonic lodge, has been organizing the program and continues to build upon past success.
This year is the program’s twentieth anniversary. The awards reception will again be held in the Banquet Hall Room at the Norwood Masonic Building, 76 Day Street, Norwood, MA on Friday, May 1 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Educator nomination forms and reception tickets can be obtained in advance at:
https://www.orientlodge.org/teacher-of-the-year.html. The nomination period ends March 22nd.
Organizers of the Teacher of the Year Awards program are seeking volunteers to be first round judges. First round judging begins on March 26th. Complete program details, including the detailed timeline, are available on the program’s information page.
About Norwood Teacher of the Year
An annual event with a popular following, this program seeks to shine the spotlight on educators exhibiting exemplary effort in Norwood public, parochial and Montessori schools. This is an all-volunteer program that is proud to continue the tradition of acknowledging the hard work and dedication of our educators.
About Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M.
Chartered in 1861, Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M. is Norwood’s Masonic Lodge. As part of the Sixth Masonic District of Massachusetts, Orient partners with our brother lodges in neighboring Westwood towards our common goals of supporting volunteer, charity and social events. To find out more about the Massachusetts Freemasons, please visit: https://massfreemasonry.org/.
Contact:
Bro. Steven A. Sheeky
Secretary
Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M.
Norwood, MA
email: [email protected]
-- The annual educator recognition awards program, Norwood Teacher of the Year, is proud to announce the nominations period for this year’s program is now open. This popular community program celebrates the contributions our town’s educators make for our youth. Originally started by the Exchange Club of Norwood, Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M., Norwood’s Masonic lodge, has been organizing the program and continues to build upon past success.
This year is the program’s twentieth anniversary. The awards reception will again be held in the Banquet Hall Room at the Norwood Masonic Building, 76 Day Street, Norwood, MA on Friday, May 1 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Educator nomination forms and reception tickets can be obtained in advance at:
https://www.orientlodge.org/teacher-of-the-year.html. The nomination period ends March 22nd.
Organizers of the Teacher of the Year Awards program are seeking volunteers to be first round judges. First round judging begins on March 26th. Complete program details, including the detailed timeline, are available on the program’s information page.
About Norwood Teacher of the Year
An annual event with a popular following, this program seeks to shine the spotlight on educators exhibiting exemplary effort in Norwood public, parochial and Montessori schools. This is an all-volunteer program that is proud to continue the tradition of acknowledging the hard work and dedication of our educators.
About Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M.
Chartered in 1861, Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M. is Norwood’s Masonic Lodge. As part of the Sixth Masonic District of Massachusetts, Orient partners with our brother lodges in neighboring Westwood towards our common goals of supporting volunteer, charity and social events. To find out more about the Massachusetts Freemasons, please visit: https://massfreemasonry.org/.
Contact:
Bro. Steven A. Sheeky
Secretary
Orient Lodge, A.F. & A.M.
Norwood, MA
email: [email protected]
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AN EVENING TO REMEMBER - TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2026 AWARDS RECEPTION
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Nomination Video: Kate Danner Norwood High School |
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Nomination Video: Colleen Reynolds George F. Willett Early Education Center |
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Nomination Video: Abby Brown F.A. Cleveland Elementary School |
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Music Playlist Social Hour music playlist. |
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Event Program Includes complete nominations. |
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If you are interested in being a Judge,
please email the Program Coordinators here: |
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new developments, please click the JOIN ANNOUNCEMENT LIST: |
