Twenty three teachers awarded a 2008 Excellence in Teaching Award 

Edmonton... Twenty-three outstanding teachers and principals nominated by the public and their peers have been selected to receive 2008 Excellence in Teaching Awards. The awards recognize outstanding teaching ability and classroom leadership in schools across Alberta.

“These awards reflect our great appreciation for the teaching profession,” said Dave Hancock, Minister of Education. “The Excellence in Teaching Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the talents of some of our finest teachers and to consider the importance and value of a world-class education.”

The award finalists will be honoured for their accomplishments at a special dinner and award ceremony in Calgary on May 10, 2008. Twenty teachers will receive a Provincial Excellence in Teaching Award and three teachers will receive a SMARTer Kids Foundation Innovative Use of Technology Award. This announcement coincides with the close of Education Week, a time to recognize the work of educators, parents, and the greater education community – all of whom continuously work to strengthen Alberta’s education system.

“Teachers are some of the most important people in our children’s lives. They are role models and mentors who open minds and ignite passions,” said Hancock. “I am proud to recognize these 23 inspirational educators who have done exemplary work with their students in everything from encouraging critical thinking to improving literacy.”

New to the awards this year are the addition of professional development opportunities for finalists and semi-finalists:

• Support for the finalists to access up to $4,000 to attend an education conference of their choice; and
• Support for the semi-finalists to access up to $1,500 to attend an education conference of their choice.

As in previous years, the three teachers who receive SMARTer Kids Foundation Innovative Use of Technology Awards will receive a comprehensive technology package, which includes a SMART board.

Finalists were chosen from 334 eligible nominees by a selection committee of representatives from Alberta’s education community. Each nomination package contained letters of support from a teaching colleague, principals or superintendents, and a member of the public, and spoke of each nominee’s passion for teaching and creativity in the classroom.

Alberta Education hosts the 20th Annual Excellence in Teaching Awards with the support of the Alberta School Councils’ Association, the Alberta School Boards Association, The Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Edmonton Journal and the SMARTer Kids Foundation.  Albertans have celebrated Excellence in Teaching since 1989, with over 7,900 teachers nominated and more than 400 award recipients. Details about the Excellence in Teaching Awards, including biographies of the finalists, award criteria, past honorees and nomination information, are available at http:// www.education.alberta.ca  under the Teachers tab. Nomination forms for the 2009 Excellence in Teaching Awards will be available this fall.

Backgrounder

2008 Provincial Excellence in Teaching Awards Finalists

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