(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – The deadline to submit nominations for the 2007 Kentucky Teacher Awards has been
extended until September 1. Outstanding educators are encouraged to apply.
The awards, sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Education and Ashland Inc., are presented each year to teachers across the state in recognition of their outstanding classroom work. Any full-time school teacher in the state with at least three years of experience is eligible. Teachers may be nominated by themselves, students, parents, teaching peers, principals, superintendents or anyone from the community who has an interest in honoring an outstanding educator.
Nomination forms can be found by visiting the Kentucky Department of Education's Web site, here.
Judging for the 2007 program will take place in late September by a blue ribbon panel of education professionals from around the state. Site visits with nine semifinalists and personal interviews with the top three candidates also will occur in September. On October 13, at the state Capitol, 24 Teacher Achievement Award winners, the Kentucky Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers of the Year and the overall Kentucky Teacher of the Year will be announced. The Teacher Achievement Award winners will receive a cash gift of $500 each; two of the three finalists will receive a cash gift of $3,000; and the Teacher of the Year will receive a cash prize of $10,000, along with an exciting professional development opportunity. The Kentucky Teacher of the Year then will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
The Kentucky Teacher Awards program combines the best elements of the Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards and the Kentucky Teacher of the Year programs. This is the sixth year for this innovative collaboration between private industry and public education.
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