AATSP Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards

The AATSP Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards are given to teachers of Spanish or Portuguese representing the following four categories:

1. Elementary Level: Grades K-8
2. Secondary Level 9-12
3. Two-year college level
4. College or university level

Teachers who wish to be candidates for these awards must following the procedures outlined below.

Nominations

1. Nominations may be submitted in writing by any member of the national AATSP, including self- nominations.

2. Each nomination must be endorsed by the candidate’s local chapter, which is restricted to one nominee per category.

3. The letter of nomination or recommendation should include the following information:

   1. In what capacity the nominator has known the person nominated.

   2. How the excellence of the nominee has been assessed.

   3. The rationale for proposing the candidate as a most deserving person for the award.

Eligibility

To be considered, the nominee must meet the following requirements:

1. Membership in the national AATSP for at least five consecutive years.
   
2. Provide evidence of teaching Spanish or Portuguese for at least five consecutive years at any level of instruction.
   
3. Submit your application materials to corporate@aatsp.org
   
4. Your application materials should include:
   

   1. a current curriculum vitae
   2. no more than five letters of recommendation which may include letters from administrators, colleagues, or other significant references
   3. evidence of professional excellence in teaching Spanish or Portuguese in a two-or three-page statement which presents the candidate's teaching philosophy and involvement in related activities and professional organizations. In this position statement the candidate may comment on any of the following topics:

   1. How are students inspired to want to speak Spanish or Portuguese and to develop proficiency in the other language skills?
   2. How are creativity and ingenuity used in planning classroom activities that help to challenge students?
   3. What type of activities used to develop critical thinking and higher order thinking skills?
   4. How is a sense of global understanding developed in the students?
   5. To what extent has the candidate demonstrated leadership and participation
   6. In what way has the candidate shared knowledge or information with colleagues?

Notes

• The scholarship will be presented at the Awards Luncheon during the Annual Meeting of the AATSP to be held in San José, Costa Rica on July 10, 2008. The winner is expected to be in attendance at the luncheon to accept the award.

• Individuals who have received this award previously are not eligible to receive the award again and should not apply for consideration.

Send all nomination materials via email to:

corporate@aatsp.org
Indicate the name of the nominee and the award in the Subject line.

Deadline: Monday, May 19, 2008