PREMIER’S AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE

In the 2007 speech from the throne, government committed to the Premier’s Awards for Teaching Excellence, which will be awarded annually beginning this year, to recognize and reward excellence in teaching. The nominations for this award are open until Dec. 14, 2007.

Nomination Criteria

· Nominees must be currently teaching within the British Columbia K-12 public, independent or band school systems.

· Nominees must work directly with students and must have taught courses of study authorized by the School Act and/or Independent School Act during the 2006/2007 school year.

Nomination Process – Nomination forms can be found online at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/teacherawards/. Teachers can be nominated by any member of the public, including:

· Students

· Parents

· Teachers

· Administrators

· Principals

· Superintendents

· Trustees

· Community Organizations

Selection Committee

The Awards Selection Committee will be chaired by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and composed of education partners from throughout the province including students and other members of the education community.

Awards Information

Up to 20 teachers from across the province will be honoured in a special ceremony and will receive $1,500 for professional development.

The awards categories will include recognition in teaching excellence in the following categories:

· Literacy

· Healthy Living and/or Physical Education & Coaching

· Environmental Awareness

· Distributed Learning

· Aboriginal Learning

· School Leadership

· Community Engagement

· Skills Training and Career Preparation

· Beginning Teacher (0-5 years)

· Lifetime Achievement (20+ years)

Awards Recipients

Awards recipients will be recognized at an awards event in spring 2008.

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Media contact:	Lara Perzoff Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963 250 920-9040 (cell)	Mike Morton Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218

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