Teacher of the Year

Dear GCTE friends,

Please give me a moment of your time to share with you the changes your GCTE board has recently made to the GCTE Teacher of the Year awards. We streamlined the application process, modified the application package, and increased the award at each of four levels: Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and College.

First, we have eliminated the nomination part of the application process. Instead, we would like for you to give a deserving teacher or colleague an application personally and ask your choice for Teacher of the Year to apply for the award. Since you no longer need a nomination, please feel free to directly apply yourself!

In addition, we have modified that intimidating packet of information you are asked to send our judges. All new information packets will be submitted electronically in a .pdf file containing no more than ten pages, not including the application. The information to be submitted is explained on the application itself. Application packets, which should include the application, should be emailed to me at jrucker@friendlycity.net. If you have any difficulties creating the electronic .pdf file, follow these easy steps: 1) ask your media specialist for help, 2) ask your technology specialist for help, or 3) ask one of your students for help!

Finally, your GCTE board recognizes the difficulties many of you face requesting professional leave and obtaining funds to attend the conference. Many board members pay conference expenses out of their own pockets, so we know the sacrifices you often make just to attend the annual conference. As in the past, all winners will receive a beautiful acrylic plaque, recognition at the annual GCTE luncheon, recognition in GCTE publications, and a check for $250. Those winners who attend the conference this year will get an additional $250 to help offset their expenses. Winners will also be notified prior to the conference.

What do you have to lose? Instead of catching up on that stack of escape fiction you have accumulated since this last summer, spend one day of your winter break writing about yourself, your students, and your thoughts on educational issues affecting your classroom. Let us peek inside your classrooms through the information you provide in your application packets. We know there are hundreds of deserving English teachers in Georgia; help us find four to recognize in 2009.

Sincerely,

Dr. Julie Rucker
Director, Teacher/School Awards
jrucker@friendlycity.net