Skip to content Ontario.ca Français

The Premier's Awards for Teaching Excellence recognize educators and staff who excel at unlocking the potential of Ontario's young people.

Who is eligible?

Anyone who is employed by a publicly funded school or board/authority in Ontario is eligible. You can nominate teachers, support staff, principals and vice-principals, supervisory officers, and directors of education.

Do you know someone who:

• supports struggling students. Someone who helps discouraged kids to get back in the game and motivates them to aim high.
• builds strong relationships with parents and the community to help students learn.
• nurtures francophone cultural development and helps forge a strong francophone identity.
• inspires passion for the environment. Someone who builds students' environmental knowledge, skills and perspectives; motivates them to action; and helps them become environmentally responsible citizens.
• encourages students to explore new possibilities, take risks, and solve problems in a creative way.
• helps students with special needs to succeed in school and in life.
• uses really innovative teaching methods. Someone who thinks outside the box and advances new approaches to teaching and learning.
• makes a difference. Someone who leads a project that transforms a school or board.
• helps students connect to the world of work while they're still in school. Someone who partners with the community to find opportunities – opportunities that expand students' experiences into the world outside the school.
• supports students who face difficult challenges. Someone who helps kids build confidence and overcome life's obstacles.
• is outstanding at improving students' reading, writing, and communication skills. Someone who inspires kids to read and to love reading; to write and to love writing; and to communicate with more than just words.
• fosters a culture of equity and respect. Someone who makes all students feel welcome and who brings people together to celebrate Ontario's many cultures.
• makes math matter. Someone who turns mathematical concepts into more than just numbers and who helps students build strong problem-solving and math skills.
• helps students develop their cultural identity. Someone who nurtures First Nation, Métis or Inuit culture, supports kids' cultural development, and encourages them to take pride in their heritage.
• inspires students to be good citizens. Someone who encourages students to think both locally and globally and teaches them the importance of strong values.
• improves community life by linking students, parents and the community toward a common goal.
• is an outstanding mentor to other educators and staff. Someone who leads by example, builds on success, and inspires others to overcome challenges.
• transforms students' lives. Someone who makes a profound and positive impact on kids' intellectual, social and emotional development.

These are just a few of the ways that Ontario's educators make a difference in the lives of students, families and communities across the province. But they aren't the only ways. You might have your own reasons for nominating someone. Share your stories of how that special teacher made learning come to life, that support staff member helped kids overcome obstacles, or how that school or board leader rallied a community to make a difference in the lives of their students.