Tennessee Department of Education details Teacher of the Year application steps, deadlines

Sarah Brown, senior coordinator of educator recognition for the Tennessee Department of Education, hosted a virtual webinar that reviewed eligibility, application steps and deadlines for the Tennessee Teacher of the Year program and warned participants that the state does not permit generative AI tools in meetings hosted on state resources.

Brown opened the session by reading a technical restriction: “The state of Tennessee does not currently permit the use of generative AI tools such as Otter in meetings hosted on state resources.” She told attendees that state meetings with contractors, vendors and subrecipients “may involve discussion of protected state data” and said the state will block tools it deems noncompliant.

The webinar gave a step‑by‑step overview of the Teacher of the Year selection process and key dates. Brown said district nominations were due Dec. 23, that Part 1 of the application must be submitted by Feb. 3, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. to continue in the region selection process, and that Part 2 is due May 12, 2025. She said applicants should expect notification…