POULSBO — Teaching is one of the most pivotal professions in today’s society as it holds the power to mold the future. Each year, North Kitsap honors exceptional efforts in education with the Rangvald Kvelstad Teacher of the Year Award, and it’s time for kudos again this year.

The Teacher of the Year Award Foundation was incorporated in 1987 to relay the accomplishments of the classroom to the community at-large, said acting chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees Jon Schneidler.

“We felt we needed to find a way to communicate to the public the extraordinary things our teachers are doing for our kids,” Schneidler said. “The whole notion was not to single out a teacher for the award but to have all of the nominees tell the exemplary story of what is happening in our schools.”

The foundation is asking North Kitsap residents to submit their recommendations for the 2006 Teachers of the Year by March 1.

Nomination forms and brochures for the award are available at the principal’s office of each public and accredited private school in the North Kitsap School District, as well as in various stores around the North End, including Albertsons, Central Market, Kingston Thriftway and others.

The award is presented annually to both an elementary and a secondary school teacher who has succeeded in providing inspiration for students to excel in academics or a vocational field and/or has caused a significant positive change in students’ attitudes toward learning, personal achievement or self-esteem.

“Virtually all teachers could be nominated,” said Schneidler, who has worked closely with educators and previously served on the NKSD board. “I’ve never met such a dedicated group of people.”

The award was created to recognize the extra effort teachers put forth to help students learn. The basic criteria for selecting the Teacher of the Year are inspiration, knowledge, professionalism and community involvement. To be eligible for nomination, the teacher must be an accredited full- or part-time teacher, have five or more total years of teaching experience and three or more years of teaching experience within NKSD area schools.

A selection committee — made of individual citizens outside of both the school district and the award foundation — will review the pool of nominees and make the selections for the Teacher of the Year Awards, which will be presented during a special assembly at an NKSD board meeting in May.