Following are application deadlines for awards, honors, and contests available to teachers. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.
May 1 MATH AND SCIENCE
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, established in 1983 by the White House and sponsored by the National Science Foundation, identifies outstanding K-12 math and science teachers in the 50 states; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense schools; American Samoa; Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas; and the Virgin Islands. Teachers serve as models for their colleagues and as leaders in the improvement of science and mathematics education. Grades K-6 teachers are eligible to apply in 2004; in 2005, the competition will be open to teachers of grades 7-12. Awardees are chosen by a national selection committee and receive a citation signed by the president of the United States; a $10,000 award from NSF and gifts from donors; and a paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., in March to attend recognition events, including an award ceremony, meetings with leaders in government and education, sessions to share ideas and teaching experiences, and receptions and banquets to honor recipients. Full-time, certified teachers currently teaching math or science in public or private schools and with at least five years’ experience teaching those subjects in a K-6 classroom can be nominated. Principals, otherteachers, students, or any member of the general public may submit a nomination. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nomination forms are available on the Web site. Completed applications must be submitted to state coordinators. For more information on the program or how to reach a state coordinator, contact: NSF, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230; (703) 292-5111; www.nsf.gov/pa.
*May 24 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 also must be members of the council with at least three years’ standing and spend at least half of each school year teaching a foreign language. The winner receives a $500 cash award. Contact: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 700 S. Washington St., Suite 210, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 894-2900; www.actfl.org.
*May 27 PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, annually recognizes organizations for performance excellence in five categories, including education. Public and private elementary and secondary schools are eligible to receive the awards. Up to three winners are chosen based on such criteria as student learning achievements and improvements in education design and delivery, leadership, and strategic planning. Contact: Baldrige National Quality Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Administration Building, Room A600, 100 Bureau Dr., Stop 1020, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1020; (301) 975-2036; fax (301) 948-3716; e-mail nqp@nist.gov; www.quality.nist.gov.
*May 28 AEROSPACE
The Christa McAuliffe Memorial Award, offered by the Aerospace Education Foundation, honors one public, private, or parochial K-12 teacher who furthers the concepts of aerospace technology through innovative classroom programs. The award includes a $1,000 stipend and a trip to Washington, D.C., where the winner is recognized at the Air Force Association National Convention. Each applicant must have a letter of endorsement by an AFA sponsor and a letter of support from an administrator. Contact: Aerospace Education Foundation, 1501 Lee Hwy., Arlington, VA 22209; (800) 291-8480; fax (703) 247-5853; e- mailaefstaff@aef.org; www.aef.org/aid/christa.asp.
*June 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 must have been published between June 2003 and May 2004, focus on social education, advance the teaching and learning of social studies, and 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 information@ncss.org; www.ncss.org/awards.
*June 1 TEACHER EDUCATION
The Association of Teacher Educators seeks applicants for two awards. The annual Distinguished Dissertation in Teacher Education Award gives the author a monetary award, which is supported by a grant from the ATE Leadership Foundation for Teacher Education; a plaque; and national recognition. Candidates must have completed their dissertations within the past two years at an accredited college or university. The Distinguished Research in Teacher Education Awards recognize and encourage outstanding studies of teacher education and/or student learning. Individuals involved in teacher education may submitpapers published or accepted for publication within the past two years or papers of comparable quality. Judging criteria include investigative rationale and adequacy of research. Two winners each receive a plaque and recognition at ATE’s national conference. Contact: David Byrd, School of Education, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881; (401) 874-8454; e-mail dbyrd@uri.edu; www.ate1.org.
*June 7 FIRE SAFETY
The National Fire Protection Association and the family of Rhea Reiss, a longtime advocate for fire safety education, seek nominations for the eighth annual NFPA Teacher of the Year Award. Full- or part-time classroom teachers or day-care providers in public, private, or parochial school systems that have used NFPA’s Risk Watch or Learn Not to Burn educational materials are eligible. The winner and the individual who nominated him or her receive an expenses-paid trip to NFPA’s fall conference in Miami. The winning teacher also will receive NFPA educational materials. Application materials are available online. Contact: Amy LeBeau, NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269; (617) 984-7285; e-mail alebeau@nfpa.org;
www.nfpa.org/riskwatch/teach_award.html.
*July 1 JOURNALISM
The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund seeks applicants for its National High School Journalism Teacher Awards. The program selects the National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year, who acts as a spokesperson for scholastic journalism; four Distinguished Advisers; and several Special Recognition Advisers. Candidates must have at least three years’ experience teaching or advising high school journalists; they also must have taught or advised during the 2003-04 academic year and plan to continue teaching or advising in 2004-05. The Teacher of the Year receives a laptop computer and the opportunity to attend a professional seminar at the Poynter Institute; a senior student at the winner’s school is eligible for a $1,000 college scholarship. Contact: Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, P.O. Box 300, Princeton, NJ 08543; (609) 452-2820; fax (609) 520-5804; e-mail newsfund@wsj.dowjones.com; http://djnewspaperfund.dowjones.com .
*July 31 ECONOMICS
The NASDAQ Educational Foundation and the National Council on Economic Education announce the National Teaching Awards for high school teachers who incorporate economics education into any subject area. Regional and national awards are presented to the most creative, original, and effective efforts to apply economic content and reasoning skills to financial markets, personal finance, entrepreneurship, the market economy, or the capital formation or investment process. Any grades 6-12 teacher in the United States may apply. Five regional winners each receive $10,000 and the opportunity to compete for an additional $15,000 and the title of Grand National Winner; 20 regional semifinalists are awarded $1,000 each. Entry forms are available online. Contact: Claire Melican, Vice President for Program Administration, National Council on Economic Education, 1140 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036; (800) 338- 1192; e-mail cmelican@ncee.net; www.ncee.net/nasdaq.
*August 1 BIOLOGY
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, a nonprofit curriculum developer, seeks applications for its 2003 Teacher of the Year Awards. One teacher with more than five years’ experience and one teacher with five years’ experience or less each receive a $1,000 cash award, $500 in travel expenses for the National Association of Biology Teachers convention in Cincinnati, and $1,000 to upgrade their schools’ biology labs. Applicants must use one of BSCS’s three full-year high school programs and teach in a manner that embodies the BSCS approach to inquiry, conceptual learning, and emphasis on the nature of science. Contact: Aleigh Raffelson, 5415 Mark Dabling Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918; (719) 531-5550, ext. 135; e-mail araffelson@bscs.org; www.bscs.org.
