Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) is now accepting nominations for Teacher of the Year. Anyone can nominate a teacher. Nomination forms are available online. The deadline is January 5, 2026, at 5 p.m.
After being nominated, AUSD 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 packet (including a resume, an introductory letter, and letters of support) to the district office.
The AUSD Teacher of the Year Selection Committee then meets to screen applications and determine which applicants will move onto the next phase—classroom observations. During that stage, Selection Committee members may visit classrooms, interview finalists, and determine this year’s Teacher of the Year. Members of the selection committee include former AUSD Teachers of the Year, a Board of Education member, a principal, and representatives of both the Alameda Education Association (which represents teachers) and the PTA Council.
The winner will be honored by the Board of Education in May and by the Alameda County Office of Education in the fall. That person will then become eligible for the Alameda County Teacher of the Year award, and potentially the State Teacher of the Year award.
The 2025 Teacher of the Year is Paden teacher Michael Kramer-Wong, who was honored for his thoughtfulness, creativity, and ability to nurture not only individual student growth but also school culture and leadership. Mr. Wong went on to be selected as an Alameda County Teacher of the Year in October.
More good news: We will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Encinal High School athletic field on January 9 at 3:30 p.m. The new stadium, which includes a multisport turf field, a new regulation-sized track, areas for field sports, new bleachers, a press box, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, and new lights, was paid for by Measure B, the facilities bond approved by Alameda voters in 2022. The district remains grateful for the community’s support in providing this beautiful field to our Jets students, as well as our current projects at Wood Middle School (new campus) and Alameda High School (a new swim center and upgrades to Kofman auditorium).
Susan Davis is the Senior Manager of Community Affairs for the Alameda Unified School District. Reach her at [email protected].
