Following are application deadlines for awards, honors, and contests available to teachers. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
*April 1 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
The National Council for the Social Studies seeks nominations for the Outstanding Elementary, Middle School Level, and Secondary Social Studies Teachers of the Year Awards. Teachers must have maintained NCSS membership for at least two years prior to nomination, and they must demonstrate exceptional abilities in six categories. Winners receive $2,500, a commemorative gift, an opportunity to present at the NCSS annual conference, and complimentary one-year NCSS membership. Sponsors of the awards are Weekly Reader, Scholastic Inc., and Time magazine. For more information, contact: Ana Post, Manager of Recognition Programs and Special Projects, NCSS, 3501 Newark St. N.W., Washington, DC 20016-3167; (800) 296-7840, ext. 114; apost@ncss.org; www.socialstudies.org/ awards/teachers/html.
April 19 Waste Management
The Solid Waste Association of North America sponsors the Excellence in Solid Waste Education Awards, which recognize extraordinary efforts in educating the public on solid waste-related issues. Two awards are given, one for K-12 curriculum and one for a public-education program. Entries are judged on technical accuracy, educational goals, quality of design and communications, program evaluation, and originality. Contact: Solid Waste Association of North America, P.O. Box 7219, Silver Spring, MD 20907; (301) 585-2898.
April 29 Heroes
Northern Life Insurance Co. and ReliaStar seek applicants for the Education’s Unsung Heroes Awards. Full-time K-12 educators, paraprofessionals, and school staff who have initiated an effective teaching program are eligible. One hundred finalists win $2,000 to further their projects. Three grand-prize winners receive an additional $25,000, $10,000, or $5,000 for their projects. Contact: Education’s Unsung Heroes Awards, c/o Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America, 1505 Riverview Rd., P.O. Box 297, St. Peter, MN 56082; (507) 931-1682 or (800) 537-4180; fax (507) 931-2109; www.unsungheroes.com.
April 30 Social Studies Curriculum
The National Council of the Social Studies honors outstanding social studies programs through the Social Studies Programs of Excellence Award. Programs must be nominated through state councils for the social studies. Awards are given in three categories: elementary (grades K-6), middle school/junior high (5-9), and high school (9-12). Winners receive a commemorative gift for their school, teacher certificates, and the opportunity to present at the NCSS annual conference. Because actual state deadlines vary, applicants should contact their state council award coordinator for deadlines. Contact: Ana Post, Manager of Recognition Programs and Special Projects, NCSS, 3501 Newark St. N.W., Washington, DC 20016-3167; (800) 296-7840, ext. 114; apost@ncss.org; www.socialstudies.org /awards/curriculum.html.
May 1 Exemplary Biology Teachers
The National Association of Biology Teachers each year honors an individual who has achieved distinction in teaching, research, or service in the biological sciences. The honoree becomes a lifetime member of the NABT and is recognized in NABT publications and at the NABT’s national convention. Nominations may be submitted by any NABT member and must include a description of the candidate’s qualifications, a detailed biographical summary, and supporting letters from at least nine NABT members. For more information, contact: Louise Pittack, National Association of Biology Teachers, 11250 Roger Bacon Dr., #19, Reston, VA 20190-5202; (800) 406-0775; e-mail nabter@aol.com.
*May 1 Web Pages
Advanced Network and Services Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes technology in education, sponsors ThinkQuest for Tomorrow’s Teachers, an international contest that challenges teams of four to seven teachers to build Web sites that are interactive teaching and learning tools. College and university faculty, K-12 teachers, and prospective teachers are eligible. The first-place team wins $75,000, while the second-place team collects $50,000 and the third-place team $25,000. For more information, visit the Advanced Network and Services Inc. Web site at www.thinkquest.org.
*May 8 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
The National Fire Protection Association and the family of Rhea Reiss, a longtime advocate for fire safety education, seek nominations for the fourth annual NFPA Teacher of the Year Award. Full- or part-time classroom teachers or daycare providers in public, private, or parochial school systems that have used the NFPA’s “Risk Watch” and/or “Learn Not to Burn” educational materials are eligible. One grand-prize winner and the individual who nominates him or her receive educational materials and an expenses-paid trip to NFPA’s fall conference in Orlando, Fla. Contact: Barbara Dunn, National Fire Prevention Association, One Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269; (617) 984-7285; www.nfpa.org.
*May 25 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ASM International, a society of metals and materials scientists, awards five grants of $500 to K-8 teachers. Winners are selected based on proposals describing curriculum-based, hands-on projects that involve student observation, communication, math and science skills, awareness of materials, and the role of the materials scientist. Contact: T.K. Glasgow, ASMI, NASA Glenn Research Center, MS 48-1, 21000 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland, OH 44135; (216) 433-5013; fax (216) 433-3680; e-mail Thomas.K.Glasgow@lerc.nasa.gov; www.ctsc.org/asmi.
*May 26 Foreign Languages
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages asks national, state, and regional members to nominate educators for its Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in Foreign Language Education. Nominees must be K-12 foreign language teachers or administrators with a minimum of five years’ teaching experience. They must also be members of the council with at least three years’ standing, and they must spend at least half of each school year teaching a foreign language. Contact: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 6 Executive Plaza, Yonkers, NY 10701-6801; (914) 963-8830. Nominations should be sent to: Sheri Spaine Long, University of Alabama, Department of Foreign Language and Literature, Birmingham, AL 35294.
*June 1 SOCIAL STUDIES RESEARCH
The National Council for the Social Studies encourages scholarly inquiry into significant issues for social studies education through the Exemplary Research Award. Eligible research must have been published between June 1999 and May 2000 and must satisfy a number of criteria. Winners receive a commemorative gift and an opportunity to present at the NCSS annual conference. For more information, contact: Ana Post, Manager of Recognition Programs and Special Projects, NCSS, 3501 Newark St. N.W., Washington, DC 20016-3167; (800) 296-7840, ext. 114; apost@ncss.org; www.socialstudies.org/a wards/research/html.
*June 15 Reading And Literacy
The International Reading Association invites members enrolled in a doctoral program to apply for the Helen M. Robinson Award, a $500 grant for a student in the early stage of dissertation research on reading or literacy. For more information, contact: International Reading Association, Helen M. Robinson Award, Division of Research and Policy, 800 Barksdale Rd., P.O. Box 8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139; (302) 731-1600, ext. 226; fax (302) 731-1057; e-mail gkeating@reading.org; www.reading.org.
*June 30 Biology
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, a nonprofit curriculum developer, seeks nominations for its two Teacher of the Year awards. One teacher with more than five years’ experience and one teacher with less than six years’ experience will each receive $1,000, plus $500 in travel expenses to the National Association of Biology Teachers Convention in Orlando, Fla., and $1,000 to upgrade their school’s biology labs. Colleagues, principals, and science eduators may nominate high school biology teachers who use one of BSCS’s high school programs and whose teaching embodies the BSCS approach to inquiry, conceptual learning, and the nature and methods of science. To nominate a teacher, contact: Linda Ward, 5415 Mark Dabling Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918; (719) 531-5167, ext. 106; e-mail lward@bscs.org.
*August 1 Teacher Education
The Association of Teacher Educators seeks applicants for its Distinguished Dissertation in Teacher Education Award, which honors the author of an outstanding doctoral dissertation related to teacher education. The winner receives a plaque and national recognition. Candidates must have completed their doctoral dissertation within the past two years at a college or university accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Contact: Veronica Stephen, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, IL 61920; (217) 581-7896 or (217) 662-8553; e-mail cfvps@eiu.edu.
*August 1 Teacher RESEARCH
The Association of Teacher Educators has established the Distinguished Research in Teacher Education Awards to recognize and encourage outstanding studies of teacher education and/or student learning. Individuals involved in teacher education may submit papers published or accepted for publication within the past two years, or papers of comparable quality. Entries are judged on many factors, including investigative rationale and adequacy of research. Winners receive a plaque and recognition at the ATE’s national conference. Contact: Sally Botzler, Department of Education, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521; (707) 826-5869; fax (707) 826-5868; sjb3@humboldt.edu.
—Jennifer Pricola
