Ron Simpson, Chief Communications Officer
Teacher of the Year Regional Coordinator
400 E. Spring Valley Road
Richardson, TX 75081-5101
972.348.1040
972.348.1041 (FAX)
2011 Teacher of the Year Application
The Teacher of the Year Application and Nomination Guidelines for the year 2011 are also available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=7295. The application may be used for multiple entries. All information should be supplied on the entry form, or if word-processed, the form should list the same section topic headings, with pages numbered sequentially. The application consists of an application cover sheet with the name and information about the nominee, the school and the district, as well as a section containing answers to several essay questions.
There are two deadlines that nominees must observe to qualify. First, applicants must fill out the cover sheet, sign it, and obtain the signature of both their principal and their superintendent. A signed copy of this cover sheet must be received by the regional coordinator at Region 10 Education Service Center no later than 5 p.m., Friday, June 11, 2010. Faxed cover sheets will be accepted. The regional coordinator will acknowledge each applicant and send to the state coordinator at TEA a list of all nominees in their region. The cover sheet is a preliminary entry indicator and may be sent in as soon as a candidate from a district is selected.
The completed entry, with answers to the essay questions and the cover sheet with original signatures of the applicant, principal and superintendent, is due at Region 10 Education Service Center no later than 5 p.m., Friday, June 25, 2010. Faxed entries cannot be accepted. This is considered the official entry and any failure to meet this deadline will result in disqualification.
Nominees should answer the entire application form cover sheet and essay questions and not exceed the page limitations. Nominees are urged to be brief and succinct in their written responses, focusing on their most significant experiences and characteristics. Please double check for spelling errors. Candidates who add a personal touch to their applications will also produce a stronger entry, as well as provide contest judges — who have a limited amount of time to evaluate each entry — with an application that is more readable and targets a nominee’s strong points.
2011 Teacher of the Year Guidelines
The state program recognizes a Teacher of the Year in both elementary and secondary categories at the regional and state levels. Participating districts may nominate two teachers — one in elementary and one in secondary education. However, districts also may follow a process that selects one overall nominee for recognition.
In most cases, the elementary category consists of early childhood/pre-K through grade 5 and the secondary, grades 6-12. But grade divisions and classroom arrangements may vary from district to district. In general, elementary teachers will instruct the same class throughout the day in what is regarded as a traditional grade-school setting; secondary teachers will conduct classes in subject areas in a class-period or block-time schedule to different groups of students during the school day.
Any questions regarding the categories should be referred to the regional coordinator, Ron Simpson, 972.348.1040, ron.simpson@region10.org, or the Texas Education Agency.