sebastopol-rotary-education-foundation.org
  PO Box 213 Sebastopol CA 95473

TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM – 2019-2020
ALL WEST COUNTY TEACHERS ARE ELIGIBLE
​(Grades K - 12)
The Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation seeks nominations for the most outstanding West Sonoma County Teachers. 

This year awards will go to three teachers. One in each of these categories:
  • New Teacher
  • Innovative Teacher
  • ​Career Service Teacher

As in past years, we will honor three teachers selected from your recommendations.  However, as listed above,  our selection criteria have changed for two of those three teachers this coming year. 
 
We want to honor one new teacher, with three or fewer years in the profession.  New teachers often face daunting challenges as they come to grips with the task of actually educating students in the classroom.  Too often, their effort is unrecognized.  We’d like to correct that so that you have the opportunity to show one of your new teachers how much you respect the effort they are putting in to become a great educator.
 
The second new category will honor a teacher who has promoted an innovation that has had a material impact on your school or district.  We appreciate that between the introduction of new technology and the recognition of new obligations, schools are constantly searching for creative ideas that improve the quality of education they offer students.  Management experts like to point out that some of the best ideas come from the bottom up.  We agree and want to encourage your teachers to offer ideas and insights that make what you do better. 
The third teacher honoree will be selected based on our historic criteria.  He or she may come from an elementary, middle or high school, and has had a long, valued career at your school.
​
Students, parents, alumni, community members, colleagues, children, and others are invited to submit nominations. 
 
Each West Sonoma County Teacher of the Year will receive a $1000 cash award and will be recognized, along with their guests, at a Sebastopol Rotary Club luncheon on April 17, 2020.

The Teacher of the Year nomination form should be completed on our Nominations page, found here.
Alternatively the form can be copied and emailed to the Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation at: teacher@sebastopol-rotary-education-foundation.org. ​
​
If you prefer to print a copy of the form, that's our least preferred option but completed nomination forms may be sent by U.S. mail to SREF, P.O. Box 213, Sebastopol, CA 95473.
 
Nomination forms should be typed and proofread for spelling and presentation. Please limit your nomination to 2 pages single spacing, preferably with less that 1500 words.  Nominations must be emailed or postmarked by no later than midnight on Friday, February 14, 2020.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS NOMINATION FORM

 


​             Selection Criteria

​New Teacher (less than 3 years in the profession):
1.  Enthusiasm for the job.  
 (Certainly a smile and energy, but also a drive to       do things right.)
 2.  Ability to spark meaningful work conversations and address current issues.
 3.  New and useful ideas for instruction and/or school climate.
 4.  Approval of students and parents, as well as fellow teachers
    Further, while we encourage you to look at the          totality of the teacher's performance, we are              interested in the following:
    a.  Ability to handle special education students
    b.  Having a strategic, effective way to use IT/new           media as a part of instruction
    c.  Ability to relate to students, especially the                   students where a caring adult acting as a                   mentor can have a profound difference on the           trajectory of a child's education.
  
Innovative Teacher:
1.  The teacher is responsible for proposing an innovation in instruction or school climate that has been adopted in the last five years. (The innovation may simply be the adoption of a practice previously developed elsewhere, but which was not in use in the teacher’s school or district until he/she proposed it.)
 2.  The innovation has been shown to be effective in meeting its stated goal.  (Data would be good, but an explanation with some convincing precision that the innovation has achieved its stated purpose.)
 3.  The teacher has had a history of promoting high standards and thoughtful execution of instruction or school climate strategies, such that the award reflects not just a one-time contribution, but rather a history of working to improve school operations.
 
Career Service Teacher:
1.  Interpersonal communication skills  (How the teacher connects with others, what expectations of effort and achievement the teacher communicates, the feelings the teacher communicates to others.)
2. Creativity and imagination  (Innovative teaching approaches and techniques, effectiveness in addressing individual student interests and needs.)
3. Extra curricular activities (Helps students extend learning through clubs, sports, field trips, etc; is available to help students and meet with parents outside of class time; communicates closely and effectively with parents.)
4. Collegial development  (Helps guide, coach and support fellow teachers, actively contributes in staff meetings and events, exhibits school leadership.)
5. Personal professional development  (Pursues personal growth as a teacher, utilizes a variety of outside resources.)

For more information: ​
contact Diana Rich 

by email at  dianagrich@gmail.com or by telephone at 707 479-1717 
​
Nominations must be submitted online or emailed or postmarked by the deadline:
​Midnight Friday, February 14, 2020​