On October 28, voting for Teacher of the Year took place during the faculty meeting, resulting in the nominations of Natalie Lauber, Kelly Meahl, Veronica Sarmiento, and Robert Traina.

The nomination process doesn’t involve a campaign. During the September 30 faculty meeting, teachers attending were provided with a list of criteria that the next Teacher of the Year should have. From there, they picked nominees that they thought met those particular standards. To be selected as a nominee, enough teachers had to anonymously write the name of certain individuals on the ballots and the teachers with the most nominations were selected as applicants.

The Teacher of the Year committee, which is made up of previous year’s winners, is responsible for collecting and counting the ballots.

Nominee Natalie Lauber says, “I am both honored and humbled by my nomination. It’s an amazing feeling when students recognize your efforts in the classroom, but for colleagues, people who have only heard of what you do and how you feel about the profession, to recognize that there’s something unique about you is a completely different feeling. They picked my name out of nearly 200 and that is a feeling that is hard to describe, even as an English teacher!”

In order for a teacher to be nominated, they must have taught at traditional or charter public schools. They also can be guidance counselors, media specialists, speech/language pathologists, or special area teachers. Even former Teacher of the Years can be contestants. People who work in a supervisory or administrative capacity cannot be nominated.

Special criteria includes an above and beyond ability to promote excellence in the field of education and contribute to the development of student’s learning. Other foundations include expertise in their content area. Leadership skills in educational activities at school, district, state, or national level are also required.

Junior Umaima Haseeb says, “Ms. Meahl is very sweet and does a great job of getting the class engaged. She is a natural leader.”

Other qualifications include the use of original or inventive teaching methods, the making of experimental programs, and the use of technology in the classroom. The most important expectation is that the teacher has to have an exceptional ability to inspire a love of learning in students of all abilities and backgrounds.

Nominee Veronica Sarmiento comments, “I was shocked just to be nominated, and I would be just as happy if the ride ended there. Just the thought that one teacher thought I was worthy enough is amazing to me. I’m just one teacher out of 200 or more. Many who, I think, are just as deserving, if not more so than I. Now, I am being considered along with three others whom I have always admired; that do so much for their students, Seminole High School, and the community. I am humbled to be in their company and that of previous nominees.”

The candidates for this year’s election are educators who have worked hard and demonstrated skills that have led them to this position. Each competitor is equally entitled to the spot, and the winner will serve as a figurehead for the 2015-2016 school year.