Each year, the Faculty Development Committee selects a faculty member as the Master Educator based on nominations submitted and nominees interviewed. Faculty members may not receive the Master Educator award more than once every five years as a single winner but can receive the award within this time period if part of a team.
The below-listed nomination categories are based on program strands established by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD):
- Teaching and Learning
Demonstration of classroom teaching and learning strategies; practical applications of instructional technology; description of classroom assessment procedures.
- Leadership Development
Faculty/staff selection and evaluation practices; policies for evaluation of instruction; indices of institutional effectiveness in practice; examples of institutional support of teaching and learning; examples of student leadership development programs and instruction.
- Career Development
Strategies for professional/faculty/staff development; activities for personal career advancement.
- Teamship Development
Innovative practices for establishing and promoting individual program and institutionwide teams; description of successful community/business/college collaborations and partnerships.
Previous Master Educator (formerly Teacher) of the Year Recipients
2026: Dave O’Connor
2025: Jana Svec
2024: Dr. Lara Hernandez Corkrey
2023: Rita Ferriter, Susan Godwin and Jennifer Lee-Good
2022: Kevin Navratil
2021: Amani Wazwaz
2020: Maha Sweis-Dababneh
2019: Anne Morgan
2018:Joe Chaloka
2017: Lampros Tzimas
2016: Ricky Moore
2015: Tom Dow
2014: Paula DeAnda-Shah
2013: Michael McGuire
2012: Jeanine Galka, Jason King and Chris Riola
2011: Michael Renehan
2010: John Nash
2009: Kristine M. Christensen
2008: Troy Swanson
2007: Krista Appelquist, John Nash and Michael Shannon
2006: Aileen Donnersberger and Margaret Lehner
2005: Barb Martin
2004: Nick Thomas
2003: Sheryl Dworak and Erika Deiters
2002: Donna McCauley
2001: Douglas C. Gehrke
2000: Sharon M. Fritz and Janice Hill-Matula
1999: Joann Wright
1998: Joe Jioia, Sylvia Jenkins, J.C. Malitzke, John Sands and Erich Spengler
1997: Virginia Kaiser
1996: Margaret Moe and Anne Reagan
1995: George Ortenzo
1994: Joy Fett, Dick Fritz, and Tom Sullivan
1993: Janice Hill-Matula
1992: John Hein
1991: Sylvia Jenkins and Betsey Teo
1990: John Sullivan and Patricia Keporos
1989: Henry Allan, Kay Schneegas, Tom Sullivan, Brian Keefe, Dick Fritz
1988: Mary Busby and Toula Karnavas
1987: Ray Pietryla and Howard Schiedt
1986: Sharon M. Fritz and Mary R. Sullivan
1985: Randy DeVillez
1984: Pat McKeague
1983: William Muller