Application Guidelines

General Requirements

Please provide all information requested and enclose the application on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper, stapled in the upper left-hand corner. The application should not be enclosed in a folder of any kind. Use a 12-point font size with Times New Roman print style and one-inch margins.

Please limit your answer to the number of pages requested in each section. In order to provide all applicants with an equal opportunity, only the number of pages requested will be accepted. Additional pages and/or materials cannot be presented to the Selection Committees.

Each application must include one photograph (color OR b&w) suitable for publicity purposes. (A 3x5 head shot is preferred).

Instructions for Building-Level & System-Level Competition

Once the teacher(s) has been selected to represent the Teacher of the Year at the building level, winners must complete Sections I, II, and III for Building-Level and System-Level competition.

Section I General Information
(One-page form provided)

Section II Educational History & Professional Development Leadership
(Maximum length is 2 double-spaced pages; indicate dates for each item listed and begin with most recent dates.)

A. List colleges and universities attended including post graduate studies. Indicate dates of attendance and degrees earned.
B. List teaching employment history indicating time period, grade level and subject area.
C. List professional association memberships including information regarding offices held and other relevant activities.
D. List leadership activities which involve professional development and training of future teachers.
E. List awards and other types of recognition of your teaching experience.

Section III Community Involvement
(Maximum length is 1 double-spaced page; indicate dates.)

Describe your commitment to your community through service-oriented activities such as volunteer work, civic and other group activities.

PLEASE NOTE: After selection at the Building Level, the applicants will be judged at the System Level. Building-Level and System-Level selections will be made prior to February 11, 2009.

Instructions For Field Service Center Region-Level Competition

Once selected as a winner at the System Level, applicants are eligible to compete at the Region Level. System-Level finalists must complete Sections IV, V and VI to be eligible for Region-Level Competition. Applications for Region-Level competition must contain Sections I, II, III, IV, V and VI.

Section IV Professional Biography
(Maximum length is 2 double-spaced pages.)

A. What were the factors that influenced you to become a teacher?
B. Describe what you consider to be your greatest contributions and accomplishments in education.

Section V Philosophy Of Teaching
(Maximum length is 2 double-spaced pages.)

A. Describe your personal feelings and beliefs about teaching, including your own ideas of what makes you an outstanding teacher. Describe the rewards you find in teaching.
B. How are your beliefs about teaching demonstrated in your personal teaching style?

Section VI Letters Of Support
(Maximum length is 1 page, single-spaced, for each letter)

Include three letters of support indicating the teacher's impact on student achievement from:

A. Your building principal
B. Your supervisor or director of schools
C. A colleague or parent

Additional materials or changes in applications will not be permitted once applications are submitted for Region-Level competition. Incomplete applications may be disqualified.

Instructions for Grand Division Teacher of the Year

After selection as a Region Teacher of the Year, winners will be notified that they are eligible to compete at the Grand Division level. Region Teachers of the Year in any of the three categories (Pre K-4, grades 5-8, and 9-12), must complete Sections VII, VIII, IX and X to compete at the Grand Division level. Completed applications for Grand Division must be postmarked no later than April 14, 2009. Applications are to be mailed to: Office of Professional Development, ATTN: Johnny Crow, 710 James Robertson Parkway, 5th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243-0376.

Section VII Education Issues & Trends
(Maximum length is 2 double-spaced pages.)

A. What do you consider to be the major public education issues today?
B. Address one of these issues, outlining possible causes, effects, and resolutions.

Section VIII The Teaching Profession
(Maximum length is 2 double-spaced pages.)

A. What can you do to strengthen and improve the teaching profession?
B. What is and/or should be the basis for accountability in the teaching profession?

Section IX Student Achievement
(Maximum length is 2 double-spaced pages.)

A. Explain what evidence you can provide to document that your teaching has resulted in high levels of student achievement for all students in your classes. (Evidence may be any authentic assessment data; for example, models, demonstrations, letters of evidence, test scores, portfolios.)

Section X Tennessee State Teacher Of The Year
(Maximum length is 2 double-spaced pages.)

As Tennessee Teacher of the Year 2009-2010, you would serve as a spokesperson and representative for the teaching profession. Write a 2-minute response in answer to the following question for you to present to the State judges during your interview.

A. What would you say to educators, parents and the general public about the importance of student achievement of all students