I just wrote a story about the Howard County Teacher of the Year, Patricia Phillips, a reading specialist at Phelps Luck Elementary School in Columbia.

The problem? When I came back to the office, I saw a press release about yet another teacher of the year recipient. The number of teacher of year awards that have come across my desk this year has now crept into double digits.

The one I just wrote about is essentially the crème de la crème of all contests; winners at the county level vie for the state — and possibly national – teacher of the year. I am in no way questioning the validity of this award.

I do think that all of these other awards presented by this, that, and the other organization, weakens the power and meaning of the more legitimate honors.

It was the same when I covered education in Louisiana. I would get endless press releases about another Teacher of the Year.

After a while the title becomes as meaningless as a Who’s Who Among American High School Students award. Anyone can get it. With the right letter of recommendation, you too can be a teacher of the year.

What do you think? Do you think that oversaturation of contests weaken the meaning of these honors? Have you ever disagreed with the naming of a certain teacher of the year?