Teacher of the Year Award
General Guidelines and Instructions:
The classroom teacher is the backbone of the American educational system. No one person has a greater impact on the education of a child than does the teacher who creates the primary learning and instructional environment. It is the mission of the State and National Teacher of the Year Programs to recognize and honor the contributions of classroom teachers.
NDEA, in conjunction with the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic, Inc. is a sponsor of the State and National Teacher of the Year Programs. The program is the oldest and most prestigious honors program to focus public attention on excellence in teaching.
Nomination:
Nominations for North Dakota Teacher of the Year must come from a teacher, school administrator, school district trustee, local education association, student or parent. Individual North Dakota schools may nominate a candidate, which means systems with more than one school may nominate more than one candidate.
Administrators, county superintendents or their designees, and local association presidents will receive nomination forms in the mail in early March. Nominations are due by the end of April of each year.
Candidates nominated should:
- be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher in any state-approved or accredited school, pre-kindergarten thorough grade twelve, who is planning to continue in an active teaching status;
- inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn;
- have the respect and admiration of students; parents, and colleagues;
- play an active and useful role in the community as well as in the school;
- be posed, articulate, and possess the energy to withstand a taxing schedule; and
- have a background of self advancement through advanced degree work, participation in seminars, workshops, etc.
To nominate a teacher: write their name, address, schools where they teach, phone number(s), and a brief paragraph or two about this teacher. Also, include name and phone number(s) of person nominating the teacher. Please mail your nomination letter to North Dakota Teacher of the Year, PO Box 5005, Bismarck, ND 58502-5005. The deadline for nominations is April 28.
Selection:
A State Selection Committee selects four finalists from the nominations received. The finalists are brought to Bismarck for individual interview with the committee. The State Selection Committee may include representatives from the following agencies/organizations:
- North Dakota Branch of National Congress of Parents and Teachers
- North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders
- North Dakota Education Association
- North Dakota Elementary School Principals
- North Dakota Schools Boards Association
- North Dakota Secondary Schools Principals Association
- North Dakota Teacher of the Year
- North Dakota University System
- State Board for Vocational and Technical Education
If a school’s candidate is selected as the North Dakota Teacher of the Year, the teacher and administrator will be notified on a confidential basis, in advance of the public announcement. The three finalists not selected and their administrators will receive confidential notification at the same time.
For more information contact LeAnn Nelson at North Dakota Teacher of the Year Program, (phone: 701-223-0450 or 800-369-6332).
|
