It’s that time of year again – the 2026 Nomination Form for the National Rural Teacher of the Year is open now! Each year, NREA and the NREA Foundation present this award to one outstanding teacher from any rural district in the United States. Visit the form to learn more and submit your nomination by June 30.
The competition for the Rural Teacher of the Year is open to all rural teachers in the United States. Any nominated teacher is eligible and shall be considered as a state semi-finalist; however, candidates nominated by an NREA State Affiliate shall automatically be the candidate from their home state. In the case of multiple nominees or in states without an NREA State Affiliate, the NREA Rural Teacher of the Year Selection Committee will select the state candidate. Only the final state candidates will be considered for the NREA Rural Teacher of the Year Award. From these state finalists, the selection committee will select four national finalists.
APPLICATION TIMELINE
All entries must be submitted online to NREA by June 30th of each year.
Presentation of the NREA Rural Teacher of the Year Award will be made at the Annual National Forum to Advance Rural Education. The Rural Teacher of the Year will make an acceptance speech and should be prepared to present a one-hour breakout session on an appropriate topic related to teaching in the setting.
The award recipient will receive a $2000 honorarium and a one-year NREA membership. The school district will receive $1,000 to cover the cost of released time and add to the instructional environment of the teacher’s classroom. The recipient’s travel, lodging, and registration costs for attending the Annual NREA Convention will be paid by the NREA. The NREA Rural Teacher of the Year will serve as an Ambassador for Education throughout the United States of America the following year.
Deadline June 30th, 2026
