The National Teachers Hall of Fame 2027 Nomination

be the first to know when nominations open

All nominations must be completed using the form on the NTHF website.

Self-nominations and nominations by family members are not accepted.

Once we have received your nomination, a link to the application will be sent directly to your nominee. You will also receive a confirmation email of your nomination and we ask that you contact your nominee so that they believe the nomination is real. 

Please read this page thoroughly before submitting your nomination.

NTHF Selection and Application Information

The National Teachers Hall of Fame, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, was founded in 1989 as a tribute to our nation’s most important profession – teaching. It is the mission of the NTHF to recognize and honor exceptional teachers. The Board of Trustees of the NTHF shall be responsible for taking such actions that are necessary to fulfill this mission. 

Since the first class was inducted in 1992, the NTHF has brought attention to the profession through an annual recognition program which honors five of the nation’s most outstanding teachers.

The process for NTHF selection:

  1. The nominee must fully complete the online application and required documentation by December 1, 2026.
  2. Applications will be reviewed and scored by a screening committee. Finalists are chosen by the screening committee through scoring and discussion.
  3. The finalists will participate in individual recorded Zoom videos that will provide the candidates with an opportunity to respond to several additional questions. These videos will be recorded taking into consideration the schedule of both the applicant and NTHF staff. 
  4. The inductee selection committee will review the finalist applications and videos and choose up to five NTHF 2027 inductees.

Additional inquiries about the applicants may be made beyond the written application by writing info@nthf.org.

Formal induction ceremonies take place in June of each year in Emporia; attendance at all functions is required for all inductees with expenses paid by the NTHF.

Teachers inducted into the NTHF serve as ambassadors both for the NTHF and the teaching profession and are expected to uphold the standards of excellence set forth by the educational community. 

The NTHF is located on the campus of Emporia State University in Visser Hall 114-115.

For more information, please email the NTHF at info@nthf.org or call (620) 341-5660.

Instructions, Guidelines and Requirements

A. Application Requirements

  • The applicant must meet the NTHF definition of a teacher:
    For NTHF eligibility purposes, a teacher is defined as an individual who holds or has held a valid state-issued teaching certificate or license and whose primary professional responsibility is the direct delivery of instruction to students and/or the mentoring of colleagues. Individuals serving in administrative or evaluative roles do not meet this definition.
  • An applicant must have completed a minimum of fifteen (15) years of full-time employment as a teacher within a public or private school district, as defined above.
  • Applicants will be required to submit a copy of their valid or former teaching certificate or license as part of the application. Applicants who are unable to procure this document may instead submit a signed statement from a current or former district or state administrator attesting that the applicant held a valid certificate or license during their period of teaching.
  • An applicant must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Applicants will be required to submit a copy of diploma as part of the application. Applicants who are unable to procure this document may instead submit a signed statement from a current or former district or college administrator attesting that the applicant has a bachelor’s degree.
  • The finished application must be submitted by 11:59 pm Central Time on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. If you need assistance, please email info@nthf.org. If selected for induction, the applicant must attend induction activities which are held in Emporia, KS the week of June 14-20, 2027. All expenses for the inductee and a guest are paid by the NTHF.

B. The nominator may wish to assist with editing or obtaining letters of recommendation, but it is the sole responsibility of the applicant to complete the application process.

C. A previously nominated individual who was not selected may be renominated, but and they must complete a new application in its entirety as the application will be updated from year to year.

D. The announcement of inductees may be done in several ways, but all nominees will be notified of the final selection by May of the induction year.

E. The Application Packet

  • The application must be filled out completely with all required information, essays, documents and letters of recommendation.
  • Acronyms should NOT be used in the text, unless they are preceded by what they represent (example: the National Teachers Hall of Fame, NTHF).
  • We encourage you to be conscientious about spelling and grammar and suggest you ask for editing/review assistance.
  • The completed nomination packet will contain the following components:
    1. Applicant Information
    2. Permission and Verification Statement
    3. Education, Teaching Experience and Special Recognition
    4. Professional/Personal Statements
    5. Letters of Support/Recommendation
    6. Verification of Degree
    7. Verification of License
    8. Photograph

Note: Follow all instructions. Send ONLY the information requested and do NOT exceed the maximum length allowed for each item.