Introduction
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is seeking applications for the 2026-27 Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year program to include educators who work with the following age groups:
- Infants (0-15 months)
- Toddlers (15-36 months)
- Preschool (36-48 months)
- Private Pre-K (48-60 months)
- Family Child Care (0-48 months)
Three early educators will be chosen regardless of age group category.
Please note that Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers are not eligible for this program. If you are interested in Georgia’s Pre-K Teacher of the Year, please visit the webpage here.
Eligibility
Both Family Child Care Providers and Child Care Center teachers are eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- Be currently employed as a lead teacher in the age group for which they are being nominated at a licensed 2- or 3-star Quality Rated childcare provider that is in good standing with all programs administered by DECAL or be a family child care provider with 50 percent of current enrollment of children between the ages of 0-48 months.
- Have a minimum of three years of experience as a lead teacher or family child care provider.
- Plan to continue as a lead teacher or family child care provider in the 2026-2027 school year.
- Hold an approved credential in the field of early childhood education or a related field (CDA, TCC, TCD, AA, BS, or Ed.).
- Be willing to participate in an interview and a classroom evaluation (if selected as a finalist).
- Be willing to serve as an ambassador for Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year program, including public speaking engagements and activities related to modeling effective classroom practices (if selected as a winner).
- Be able and willing to travel as needed, including some overnight stays (travel expenses will be reimbursed) (if selected as a winner).
Award
The top six finalists will each receive $500 for their personal use, and the top three winners will receive an additional:
- $3,000 for their personal use
- $2,000 for a classroom makeover
- Up to $2,500 for their school to cover travel expenses and stipends for substitute teachers as the teacher fulfills their duties of a Georgia’s Early Childhood Educator of the Year around the state.
Application Guidelines
You have been contacted to complete this application because you as a Family Child Care Provider or a teacher in a Child Care program were nominated. Click "Apply" to begin the application if all the eligibility criteria above has been met. If you do not have a SurveyMonkey Apply account already, you will be asked to register for one. Once you have a SurveyMonkey Apply account and are in the application, please click on "Instructions" for more information.
IMPORTANT:
If you are a teacher in a Child Care Learning Center, you'll need to add your director as a collaborator to invite them to sign the Acknowledgment Form.
The application must be completed entirely and accurately to be eligible for the award.
Applications must be submitted by Monday, August 31, 11:59 PM EDT. Direct any questions to pssinfo@decal.ga.gov.
2026 Early Childhood Educators of the Year Application
Introduction
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is seeking applications for the 2026-27 Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year program to include educators who work with the following age groups:
- Infants (0-15 months)
- Toddlers (15-36 months)
- Preschool (36-48 months)
- Private Pre-K (48-60 months)
- Family Child Care (0-48 months)
Three early educators will be chosen regardless of age group category.
Please note that Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers are not eligible for this program. If you are interested in Georgia’s Pre-K Teacher of the Year, please visit the webpage here.
Eligibility
Both Family Child Care Providers and Child Care Center teachers are eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- Be currently employed as a lead teacher in the age group for which they are being nominated at a licensed 2- or 3-star Quality Rated childcare provider that is in good standing with all programs administered by DECAL or be a family child care provider with 50 percent of current enrollment of children between the ages of 0-48 months.
- Have a minimum of three years of experience as a lead teacher or family child care provider.
- Plan to continue as a lead teacher or family child care provider in the 2026-2027 school year.
- Hold an approved credential in the field of early childhood education or a related field (CDA, TCC, TCD, AA, BS, or Ed.).
- Be willing to participate in an interview and a classroom evaluation (if selected as a finalist).
- Be willing to serve as an ambassador for Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year program, including public speaking engagements and activities related to modeling effective classroom practices (if selected as a winner).
- Be able and willing to travel as needed, including some overnight stays (travel expenses will be reimbursed) (if selected as a winner).
Award
The top six finalists will each receive $500 for their personal use, and the top three winners will receive an additional:
- $3,000 for their personal use
- $2,000 for a classroom makeover
- Up to $2,500 for their school to cover travel expenses and stipends for substitute teachers as the teacher fulfills their duties of a Georgia’s Early Childhood Educator of the Year around the state.
Application Guidelines
You have been contacted to complete this application because you as a Family Child Care Provider or a teacher in a Child Care program were nominated. Click "Apply" to begin the application if all the eligibility criteria above has been met. If you do not have a SurveyMonkey Apply account already, you will be asked to register for one. Once you have a SurveyMonkey Apply account and are in the application, please click on "Instructions" for more information.
IMPORTANT:
If you are a teacher in a Child Care Learning Center, you'll need to add your director as a collaborator to invite them to sign the Acknowledgment Form.
The application must be completed entirely and accurately to be eligible for the award.
Applications must be submitted by Monday, August 31, 11:59 PM EDT. Direct any questions to pssinfo@decal.ga.gov.