Tennessee Department of Education outlines Principal and Supervisor of the Year selection process and deadlines

Sarah Brown, senior coordinator of educator recognition at the Tennessee Department of Education, told a webinar audience in early February that district nominations for the Tennessee Principal and Supervisor of the Year programs were already due Dec. 16 and that the first state-level application (Part 1) is due March 24.

The webinar provided an overview of the competitive selection process, the materials required at each stage and the timeline for regional and statewide notification. “The Tennessee principal of the year program recognizes and honors outstanding school leaders across Tennessee,” Brown said, adding that the supervisor program similarly honors district leaders across disciplines.

Program structure and timeline The programs proceed through multiple selection cycles beginning at the district level, then moving to regional selection and the state “grand division” rounds. According to Brown, districts choose their own representatives, who then submit a Part 1 application by March 24 to continue in the process. Part 1 includes basic biographical information, two written-response questions, a video response and an optional up-to-five-page supporting documentation packet.

Regional committees will identify one semifinalist per region (27 semifinalists total across nine regions), Brown said; applicants will be notified of Part 1 decisions in April. Regional semifinalists will be invited to submit a Part 2 application in June. Part 2 requires two written responses, a video, a professional resume, two letters of recommendation, a professional biography, a headshot, a signature page from the director of schools and up to five pages of supporting documentation. A statewide committee will score Part 2 and the interview to select one finalist per region (nine finalists) and then pick grand-division and statewide winners. Brown said notifications for Part 2 outcomes typically occur in July.

Interviews and selection criteria Brown described the interview phase as a Teams-based interview in which finalists will be asked about professional growth, leadership philosophy and achievements. The statewide scoring committee will consider both application materials and interview performance when selecting representatives for East, Middle and West grand divisions and the statewide Principal and Supervisor of the Year.

Resources, support and logistics Brown said applicants can find application materials and guidebooks on the Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year websites and that she will share the webinar PowerPoint and a recording after posting. She also said she holds weekly office hours on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Central time (excluding Feb. 17, a federal holiday she noted she will be out of town).

On meeting rules and data safeguards, Brown cautioned participants that the State of Tennessee does not permit use of generative AI tools on state-hosted meetings: “Meetings of contractors, vendors, and subrecipients are not public meetings and may involve discussion of protected state data,” she said, and asked attendees not to use such tools during the webinar.

Next steps and contact Brown urged prospective applicants to review the guidebook and attend a follow-up webinar focused on Part 1 specifics scheduled for Feb. 12 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Central time. She provided an email for questions: sarah.brown@tn.gov. The webinar facilitator said she would follow up with the guidebooks, the PowerPoint and the webinar video when available.

Ending details No formal decisions or votes were taken during the webinar; the session was informational and intended to prepare district-nominated applicants for the state selection process.