PRESS RELEASE:Monday, Dec. 7, 2015
What:TPS seeks nominees for Teacher of the Year
When:Accepting nominations through Friday, Dec. 18, 2015
ContaChris Payne at 918-746-6898 or paynech@tulsaschools.org
TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa Public Schools wants to identify and celebrate the superstar teacher who most inspires students to high levels of achievement, excellence and character. To find the teacher who most embodies these stellar qualities, the district seeks nominees for Teacher of the Year from parents, students and the community at large.
The nomination form is available at www.tulsaschools.org/TeacheroftheYear. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Dec. 18, 2015.
“We want to find the best, most inspiring teacher in the TPS universe to receive the district’s highest honor, Teacher of the Year,” said Superintendent Deborah A. Gist. “We want to cast our net far and wide, so we are expanding the nomination process to include nominations from students, parents, teachers, corporate partners and classroom volunteers – anyone who has a window into the masterful teaching skills of the person they believe should be our next Teacher of the Year. I expect the competitionwill be intense, as TPS is home to so many excellent teachers. Our desire is to have a nominee from every school site. For the very first time, we are also going to include teachers at TPS charter schools, as there is great teaching taking place across our district. We hope to engage as many people as possible so we can celebrate themost amazing, magical teacher in Tulsa.”
All pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in state-accredited schools are eligible for nomination. There is no minimum years of teaching experience required to be qualified for TPS Teacher of the Year. Nominees should:
A key component of the program involves the creation of a portfolio of work by every school site nominee for Teacher of the Year.
“This presents teachers with a unique professional development opportunity, as we will host a portfolio planning session in January that will be hosted by previous winners of Teacher of the Year,” said Gist. “So nominees will learn from the cream of the crop what it takes to successfully submit a portfolio that is worthy of Teacher of the Year.”
There are other minimum requirements for teachers to be eligible.
The selection process will result in 13 semi-finalists composed of six elementary school semi-finalists; four middle school/junior high semi-finalists; two high school semi-finalists; and one alternative site semi-finalist. A community advisory and district advisory committee will select five finalists, and will ultimately determine the Teacher of the Year.
Patti Ferguson-Palmer, president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association, said, “We are excited about this new process, as it will give parents and community members a voice in helping us to identify our Teacher of the Year. This new process will ensure we uncover even those teachers who, until now, have been hidden gems and maybe not received attention and accolades for the extraordinary work they do in the classroom. We can’t wait to discover who will be the district’s next Teacher of the Year.”
Margaret DeWeese of Thoreau Demonstration Academy, last year’s Teacher of the Year, said, “Being named Teacher of the Year has certainly been the high point of my 21-year career, a milestone that I never believed I could or would achieve. Tulsa Public Schools has been my one and only home as a career teacher. The opportunity to represent all of the amazing and hardworking teachers of this district is such an honor, and it is a responsibility that I take seriously. Being honored for a job that I enjoy so much is truly energizing and profoundly gratifying.”
Nominations for Teacher of the Year must be made through the TPS website at www.tulsaschools.org/TeacheroftheYear. It is also available via the website’s home page. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Dec. 18, 2015.
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