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The relevance of the study. Pedagogical skill competitions are an effective means of improving the professionalism of educators, attracting public attention to the teaching profession. In the context of changing requirements and the order of the regional stage, the trend towards increasing the spectacularity of competitive events, its developmental significance may be lost.

The purpose of the study: to study the features of the regional professional competition “Teacher of the Year” as an indicator of the state of preschool education in the Ivanovo region.

Methodology: analysis of the tender documentation, individual standardized interview.

Research progress: the provisions of the Ivanovo region for the competition in the nomination “Teacher of Preschool Education” for the last 6 years have been studied. 71 works of participants of the regional competition “Teacher of the Year” in the nomination “Teacher of Preschool Education” for 2017–2023 were analyzed. The analysis of the personnel composition of the participants, their teaching experience, materials and topics of pedagogical experience was carried out. Interviews were conducted with educators who were present at the competitive events as spectators.

Research results: there is a general trend to simplify participation in the competition by reducing the number of face-to-face events and documentation of the correspondence stage. A reduction in the number of participants with an increase in their average teaching experience was revealed. A low competitive activity of specialists (music directors, arts teachers, physical education instructors) has been established. An analysis of the topics and materials of the contestants showed that the activities of a modern educator in the Ivanovo region is dominated by interest in the creation of manuals, the most popular is the cognitive and socio-communicative development of the child.

Conclusions. According to the results of the study, the following features were noted: the desire of teachers to receive official recognition of the significance of their work; passion for the profession as a creative and useful hobby; interest in modern pedagogical areas in work with preschoolers and the desire to introduce innovations without their critical evaluation. Simplification of the process of participation in the competition may indicate a decrease in the quality of professional training of teachers. Among the features that characterize the preschool education system of the region, we highlight the workload of educators and their lack of confidence in their professionalism, the lack and weak activity of physical education instructors, arts teachers, music directors.

The study showed teachers’ distrust of professional competitions, the lack of attractiveness of the competitive movement associated with the lack of worthy prizes and public recognition.

Background. Professional competitions for educators play a significant role in the development and improvement of the education system, helping to improve the professional skills of teachers and the quality of the educational process. In recent years, correspondence teaching competitions have been gaining popularity, which allow participants to present professional experience and learn about new technologies and working methods. An important aspect is that professional competitions help to increase the prestige of the educator’s profession by attracting young and talented specialists to this field.

Objective. Determining the features of the professional activity of a modern preschool teacher based on identifying the most characteristic problems of kindergarten teachers and specialists and studying the experience of practical solutions.

Sampling. 201 works were submitted to the competition, teachers with various work experience from most municipal districts of the Ivanovo region took part, which made it possible to create an almost complete picture of professional problems and solutions in the field of preschool education in the region. The majority were teachers with work experience from 6 to 10 years.

Methods. Analysis of competition documentation, grouping of competition works by topic, problem, proposed solutions.

Results. An analysis of the topics and materials of the contestants showed that most often teachers are faced with the problems of developing children and the upbringing of certain qualities in them (patriotism, love of nature, hard work, neatness, and others). Teachers also have difficulties with children’s communication problems associated with immature communication skills or speech disorders; solving individual didactic problems; organizing a developing subject-spatial environment; preparing and conducting classes with children; interacting with parents of preschoolers; psychological problems of children and working with special preschoolers. As a solution to these problems, teachers described the use of various educational technologies, methods, and techniques, including the project method, case method, quest technology, art therapeutic methods, non-traditional drawing techniques, and teaching aids.

Conclusions. The study showed the desire of teachers to solve problems in their work by means beyond their professional profile. There is also a tendency to replace the consideration of the cognitive interests of the child with formal tasks of implementing an educational or partial program.