NORWOOD – Do you know an educator who goes above and beyond to spark curiosity in the classroom? Now is the time to give them the spotlight they deserve.
Orient Lodge of Freemasons (orientlodge.org) have officially opened nominations for the 2026 Norwood Teacher of the Year award. This long-standing tradition celebrates the dedication and impact of primary and secondary teachers across our town, highlighting those who shape the next generation of Norwood residents.
The road to the title is rigorous, ensuring that the final recipient truly embodies teaching excellence. First, program organizers will vet all submissions for substance, completeness, and recent professional achievements to narrow the field to a group of finalists. To ensure total fairness, a panel of educators and community members will conduct a “blind” review of the finalists. The judges aren’t just looking for high test scores, they’re looking for educators who are innovative, inspirational and create impactful work on special projects or initiatives.
What’s interesting is the program gives nominators an edge by submitting a short video explaining why they deserve the honor. These clips may be featured on social media to help promote the program and celebrate our local educators.
Residents, students, and colleagues are encouraged to submit their nominations by March 23, 2026. Before you hit submit, assure nominations are for an individual teacher because group submissions will not be considered for the finals. Also, past winners are not eligible for nomination.
Finalists and the eventual winner will be announced via Orient Lodge’s social media channels and local news outlets. Details regarding a formal award reception are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Ready to start? Begin your nomination by visiting https://www.orientlodge.org/teacher-of-the-year.html and clicking “Teacher nominations period opens”. For general inquiries, the program organizers can be reached at norwood.teacheroftheyear@gmail.com. -RD
