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A.  Beginning with the 1986-1987 school year and annually thereafter, one outstanding state elementary teacher, one outstanding state middle or junior high school teacher, one outstanding state high school teacher, and one outstanding state teacher shall be selected from each year’s winners of the outstanding local teacher of the year awards.

B.(1)  The state Department of Education with the approval of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall establish a selection process for naming the four outstanding state teachers annually, which shall include regional selection committees and a state selection committee appointed by the state superintendent of education and objective procedures to consider the following factors:

(a)  Teaching skill and dedication.

(b)  Plans to continue active teaching status.

(c)  Respect of and rapport with students.

(d)  Respect of and rapport with parents.

(e)  Respect of and rapport with coworkers.

(f)  Community leadership.

(g)  Contributions to school groups and activities.

(h)  Affiliations with educational organizations.

(i)  Student achievement.

(2)  The final selection process shall also include a formal mechanism to obtain teacher, parental, and community recommendations and opinion.  Award recipients shall be suitably recognized at the state level by an appropriate ceremony for that purpose.

C.  The state teacher of the year shall participate in any national teacher of the year contest, when appropriate.

D.  Monetary awards shall be provided to the state teachers of the year at the state level when funds are available, and may be provided from private sources subject to the approval of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.  Such monetary award shall not be a violation of La. Rev. Stat. 42:1111 or any other provision of the Code of Governmental Ethics.

Acts 1986, No. 134, §1, eff. June 26, 1986; Acts 1986, No. 308, §1, eff. June 30, 1986; Acts 1995, No. 289, §1; Acts 2003, No. 743, §1, eff. June 27, 2003.