Education

Awards

April 14, 2006 7 min read
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The National Gardening Association and Mantis announce the 2006 award program in support of charitable and educational garden programs that enhance the quality of life in their host communities. In partnership with Mantis, the NGA will select 25 gardens to receive prizes; 20 will receive Mantis Tiller/Cultivators, and five will receive ComposT-Twin dual-chamber composting systems. Applications are welcome from all nonprofits; past winners include community gardens, schools, ministries, colleges, master gardening groups, and hospices. In addition to the application, candidates should send a photo of the garden and a diagram of its layout and dimensions. Contact: Donna Booska, Grants, National Gardening Association, 1100 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT 05403; (800) 538-7476, ext. 115; www.kidsgardening.com/awards.asp.

*March-May SOCIAL STUDIES
The National Council for the Social Studies honors outstanding performance in the field through its awards and grants programs. The $1,500 Defense of Academic Freedom Award recognizes classroom teachers or other individuals who have distinguished themselves defending the principles of academic freedom in specific controversies and advocating the freedom to teach and learn. The Social Studies Programs of Excellence Award recognizes outstanding programs currently being implemented within the United States and encourages the development of innovative programs. To be eligible for this award, which provides a commemorative gift for the institution, a program must be nominated by its state social studies council. The Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award, cosponsored by the Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education, awards $1,500 and a commemorative gift to classroom teachers for the development and implementation of innovative teaching strategies and student citizenship projects. The $2,000 Award for Global Understanding, given in honor of James M. Becker, is funded by the Longview Foundation and recognizes an educator or team of educators who have helped students better their understanding of the world. Additional information and detailed guidelines and criteria are available on the Web site. Contact: Ana Post, Director of Partnerships and Program Initiatives, NCSS, 8555 16th St., Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (800) 296-7840, ext. 114; e-mail apost@ncss.org; www.ncss.org/awards.

*March 1 ADVERSITY
The National Museum of Education is seeking applicants for the seventh annual Freida J. Riley Teacher Award. The $10,000 award, given by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, is named for a science and math teacher from West Virginia; it identifies and rewards an American educator who is teaching with an illness or disability, has overcome adversity, or has made a heroic sacrifice to positively affect students. The award ceremony will be held the first week of May, in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Applications are available on the Web site. Contact: The National Museum of Education, 80 W. Bowery St., Suite 305, Akron, OH 44308-1148; (330) 376-8300; fax (330) 376-0566; e-mail info@nmoe.org; www.nmoe.org.

*March 15 BIOLOGY/LIFE SCIENCE
The National Association of Biology Teachers announces a number of award competitions. The Biotechnology Teaching Award is given to a secondary school teacher or undergraduate college biology instructor. Applicants must demonstrate an innovative classroom approach that incorporates the principles and processes of biotechnology. The Outstanding New Biology Teacher Achievement Award, sponsored by NABT, recognizes outstanding teaching by a 7th through 12th grade biology or life sciences educator with less than three years’ teaching experience at the time of nomination. Applicants must have developed an original program or technique and made a contribution to the profession at the start of their careers. Science Kit, Boreal Laboratories, and the NABT’s Role and Status of Women in Biology Education sponsor the Award for Excellence in Encouraging Equity, which recognizes efforts by biology educators to encourage, promote, and strive for equity in the educational community. Judging criteria vary for each award. All winners receive a recognition plaque, honorarium, and complimentary NABT membership; all awards will be presented in October at the NABT annual professional development conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Contact: Louise Pittack, NABT, 12030 Sunrise Valley Dr., Suite 110, Reston, VA 20191-3409; (800) 406-0775 or (703) 264-9696; fax (703) 264-7778; e-mail lpittack@nabt.org; www.nabt.org.

*March 15 EDUCATION LEADERS
The McGraw-Hill Companies invite nominations for the 2006 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education. Up to three awards of $25,000 each are given to individuals in teaching, education administration, business, and government who have shown innovation in attempting to change, improve, enhance, or further an area of American education. Applications are available on the Web site. Contact: Eileen Gabriele, Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10020; (212) 512-3852; e-mail prize@mcgraw-hill.com; www.mcgraw-hill.com/prize/about_history.shtml.

*March 31 GARDENING
The National Gardening Association and Mantis announce the 2006 award program in support of charitable and educational garden programs that enhance the quality of life in their host communities. In partnership with Mantis, the NGA will select 25 gardens to receive prizes; 20 will receive Mantis Tiller/Cultivators, and five will receive ComposT-Twin dual-chamber composting systems. Applications are welcome from all nonprofits; past winners include community gardens, schools, ministries, colleges, master gardening groups, and hospices. In addition to the application, candidates should send a photo of the garden and a diagram of its layout and dimensions. Contact: Donna Booska, Grants, National Gardening Association, 1100 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT 05403; (800) 538-7476, ext. 115; www.kidsgardening.com/awards.asp.

*April 1 SOCIAL STUDIES
The National Council for the Social Studies seeks nominations for the Outstanding Elementary, Middle-Level, and Secondary Social Studies Teacher of the Year awards. Teachers must be NCSS members at the time of nomination and must demonstrate exceptional abilities in six of seven criteria. Winners receive $2,500, a commemorative gift, an opportunity to speak at the NCSS annual conference, and a complimentary one-year NCSS membership. NCSS, Junior Scholastic, and McDougall Littell, respectively, sponsor the elementary-, middle-, and secondary-level awards. Contact: Recognition Programs, NCSS, 8555 16th St., Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 588-1800, ext. 106; fax (301) 588-2049; e-mail excellence@ncss.org; www.socialstudies.org/awards/teaching.

*April 29 BEST PRACTICES
Nominations are open for the 2006 All-USA Teacher Team, USA Today’s recognition program for outstanding K-12 educators. Twenty individuals and instructional teams will be honored as representatives of all outstanding teachers. Individual nominees must have at least four years’ full-time teaching experience, including the 2005-06 academic year; instructional teams of no more than four full-time teachers must be intact in the 2005-06 academic year, and team members should average at least four years’ full-time teaching experience. Winners have their photographs published and their accomplishments noted in USA Today. They also receive trophies and share $2,500 cash awards: Each teacher receives $500, with the balance going to the school. Nominations will be accepted from anyone and should include a written statement about why the nominated educator is outstanding; nominees complete the form by explaining how they achieve their success. Nominees must not have been named to a previous All-USA Teacher Team. Forms and more information are available on the Web site. Contact: Carol Skalski, USA Today, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22108-9995; (703) 854-5890; e-mail allstars@usatoday.com; www.allstars.usatoday.com.

*May 1 SOCIAL STUDIES
The National Council for the Social Studies sponsors the Exemplary Research in Social Studies Award to acknowledge and encourage scholarly inquiry into significant issues in and possibilities for social studies education. Eligible research (articles, chapters, monographs, or books) must have been published between May 2005 and March 2006, focus on social education, and advance the teaching and learning of social studies, as well as satisfy a number of other criteria. The award includes a commemorative gift, annual conference presentation session, and publicity. Contact: NCSS, 8555 16th St., Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 588-1800, ext. 106; e-mail excellence@ncss.org; www.socialstudies.org/awards/research/exemplary.

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