| January 31, 2002
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED: The Texas Education Agency will again this year recognize excellence in the teaching profession through the Texas Teacher of the Year Program. Sponsorship and support of the program are provided by the Southwestern Bell Foundation, The Texas A&M University System, The University of Texas System, H-E-B, Smart Technologies, Inc., College Fund Life Division, the Gale Group, the Austin American-Statesman and the state's major education associations. The Texas Teacher of the Year Program annually selects a Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and a Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. In addition to these two awards, the program also selects Regional Teachers of the Year at the elementary and secondary levels in each of the state's 20 education service center regions. These Regional Teachers of the Year each receive a $500 cash award from the Southwestern Bell Foundation and become semi-finalists for the state Teacher of the Year competition. The teachers chosen as the Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and the Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year each receive an additional $4,500 from the Southwestern Bell Foundation and other corporate sponsors as well as other recognition and awards. The panel that selects these two outstanding teachers also will select one of these teachers to represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers. The guidelines and application for the 2003 Texas Teacher of the Year Program are enclosed for superintendents and regional education service centers. Campus principals can access the guidelines and application on the Texas Education Agency's Web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/awards/. The guidelines contain some suggestions for conducting local Teacher of the Year contests, but these are recommendations only. As has been customary, local school districts may select their Teacher of the Year in any manner they choose. Please note that the completed applications for each local school district's Teacher of the Year must be received at the district's respective regional education service center by 5 p.m. Friday, June 28, 2002, to be eligible to compete for regional and state honors. Each school district is encouraged to have a local Teacher of the Year contest and to participate in the Texas Teacher of the Year Program to recognize and reward some of the many fine teachers in this state. For information or assistance regarding participation in the Texas Teacher of the Year Program, please contact Marilyn Kuehlem in the Texas Education Agency's Division of Communications and Public Information at (512) 463-9103. Sincerely yours, Jim Nelson |