2000 Elementary Reading Teacher of the Year

The Elementary Reading Teacher of the Year Award will be given to an individual who has made significant contributions in the teaching of elementary reading. Special consideration will be given to candidates who are active members in their local, state, or national IRA organization.

Nominations are to be solicited from each school district through direct mailings to FRA district directors and local council presidents who will be asked to make nomination forms available to others. (It is suggested that the councils form a committee to select one nominee from the district. An information letter will also be sent to the superintendent.) Nomination forms will be printed in The Florida Reading Quarterly (September issue) and the FRA Newsletter (August issue), and will be available at the FRA Annual Conference.

To be nominated, a person must meet the following criteria:

1. Has made a positive impact on student reading.
2. Applies innovative reading techniques in a classroom setting.
3. Promotes reading outside the school.
4. Has had advanced study in reading (college courses and/or inservice work shops).
5. Has published articles, or made presentations (Inservice workshops and/or conference sessions).
6. Provides photocopy of membership cards in a local reading council, FRA, and IRA or letter of verification from the membership chair of the council.

The councils must select their nominees and return the completed nomination form and supporting documentation to the Scholarship and Awards Chairperson before February 1. The administrative committee will evaluate the candidates and choose a winner and runner-up at the March FRA Board meeting. Winners will be announced at the Leadership Training Conference and will be honored at the FRA Annual Conference.

The winner will receive 

• $100 to use for future instructional materials
• may also be reimbursed for expenses up to $300 to attend the FRA Annual Conference (receipts needed)
• a plaque will be presented to the winner at the conference. 

The runner-up will receive 

• a plaque, presented by the District Director at a local meeting, and 
• a check for $50 to use for future instructional materials. 

Letters will also be sent to the superintendent of the districts of the winner and the runner-up. Publicity releases will be sent to local newspapers, and the winner and runner-up will be featured in the FRA Newsletter and The Florida Reading Quarterly.

The downloadable application form is in Portable Document Format (PDF) and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free of charge from Adobe.

Elementary Reading Teacher of the Year Award Nomination Form