<P> The National Teacher of the Year is a professional award in the United States . The program began in 1952, as a project by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and aims to reward excellence in teaching . It is sponsored by ING . </P> <P> Every year, nominations are made by students, principals, teachers and administrators for the State Teacher of the Year' awards . The profiles of the winners from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands and the Department of Defense Education Activity are submitted to a selection committee made up of representatives from each of the major education organizations . The committee then reviews the data for each candidate and selects four finalists . The winner is chosen from these finalists based on their biography, interview and eight essays they must submit . The award is traditionally presented by the President of the United States in the White House Rose Garden . </P> <P> Although there are no clearly defined requirements the committee looks for: </P>

Who selects the national teacher of the year
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