National Teacher of the Year

In support of America’s teachers, Voya Financial is proud to be a leading sponsor of the National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) program, which recognizes and honors the contributions of teachers across the country. Voya has supported the program since 2005.

Each year, chief state school officers from across the country are invited to nominate a candidate from their state or jurisdiction. NTOY candidates are expected to be dedicated and highly skilled teachers in any state-approved or accredited school, pre-kindergarten through grade 12, who are planning to maintain an active teaching status. Following the selection of four finalists by a national committee, individual interviews are conducted in Washington, D.C., and a national winner is chosen. The selection process culminates in a ceremony at the White House, where the National Teacher of the Year is recognized among his or her peers by the President of the United States.

State Teacher of the Year

Voya Financial is proud to support State Teacher of the Year (STOY) programs in select locations across the country. In 2018, Voya-sponsored STOY programs included Arizona Teacher of the Year, Connecticut Teacher of the Year, Delaware Teacher of the Year, and New York Teacher of the Year. 

For information on nomination and selection processes for Teacher of the Year programs in any U.S. state or territory, the District of Columbia or Department of Defense, please inquire with your locale’s Department of Education.

As part of Voya’s commitment to Teacher of the Year programs, each Teacher of the Year (from all 50 states, U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense) is eligible to nominate one deserving student currently in or about to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree or credential with the ultimate goal of entering the classroom to teach. Ten finalists are chosen based on need and merit, and four winners are selected by the four National Teacher of the Year finalists following the submission of video essays describing their commitment to the teaching career. Each winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship toward their education.