The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is now accepting applications for the 2026–2027 Georgia Pre-K Teachers of the Year program.

Each year, DECAL selects two outstanding educators — one from a local public school system and one from a private child care center — to serve as ambassadors for Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

Applicants must currently serve as lead Pre-K teachers during the 2025–2026 school year and plan to continue teaching in the 2026–2027 school year. Teachers must have at least three years of experience as a lead teacher in a Georgia Pre-K classroom and meet all state credential requirements.

In addition to classroom excellence, selected teachers are expected to represent Georgia’s Pre-K Program through public speaking and outreach efforts across the state.

Georgia’s nationally recognized Pre-K Program serves approximately 70,000 four-year-olds each year, helping prepare them for kindergarten success.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. on March 9, 2026. Finalists will be announced in May, with winners named in Fall 2026.

For more information, educators may contact DECAL for application details.