The Teacher of the Year Award recognizes an individual teacher who has made a difference in students' lives, has contributed to the advancement of music in their community and is an example of a professional music educator.

2008 Teacher of the Year Award 

Amanda Ward Penick (AL)

Previous winners include:

2007 Naegeli Von Bergen Metcalf (GA)
2006 Ginger Yang Hwalek (ME)
2005 Ruth Pitts (TX)
2004 Eileen Geske (ND)
2003 Margaret Saunders Ott (WA)
2002 Joanne Smith (FL)
2001 Janice McCurnin (AZ)
2000 Ellen Masaki (HI)