Outstanding Young Educator Award FAQs
Nominations
Criteria
Selection Process and Awards
Completing the Nomination Form
Nominations
As a nominator, why do I need to choose a category, Teacher or Administrator, for my candidate?
Nominators may nominate an individual in either the Teacher category or the Administrator category. While teachers and administrators both exhibit leadership qualities, ASCD recognizes that their responsibilities and paths of leadership may be fundamentally different. ASCD recommends that nominators consider the primary responsibility of the candidate as a guide and use their professional judgment when they select the Teacher or Administrator category for their candidate.
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Do I need to be an ASCD member to nominate a young educator?
No.
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Do nominators receive any recognition?
Nominators of the OYEA winner will receive a complimentary one-year ASCD Premium membership. Nominators of OYEA honorees will receive a complimentary one-year ASCD Select membership.
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Does a nominee need to be an ASCD member?
No.
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May I nominate myself?
Yes.
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When are online applications available?
Year-round. The application for the 2013 award is open until August 1, 2012.
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Who is eligible to nominate a candidate for this program?
- A nominator must be a full-time preK–20 educator.
- Nominators may choose whether to inform candidates that they have been nominated for the OYEA Program.
- A nominator may work with the candidate to complete the application.
- Nominators may access forms and submit nominations only through the ASCD website.
- Incomplete nominations or those submitted after August 1, 2012, will not be considered for the 2013 award.
Nominations are currently open for the 2013 award. Nominations for the 2012 award closed August 1, 2011.
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Why does a nominator need to be a full-time preK–20 education professional?
A tourist appreciates the beauty of the Eiffel Tower, but an architect can appreciate what makes it unique. ASCD recognizes that preK–20 educators have specific knowledge, expertise, and experience that enable them to identify and highlight the strengths of outstanding young professionals in their field.
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Who is able to access a copy of a submitted nomination?
Copies of any nomination that has been submitted for the Outstanding Young Educator Award will only be released to the nominator or the nominee. To request a copy of a nomination you have submitted or that has been submitted on your behalf, please e-mail Constituent Services.
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Criteria
What are the criteria for this program?
The following general selection criteria for both teacher and administrator categories reflect the themes ASCD values for this program. ASCD seeks candidates who exemplify a passion for excellence in these areas. Use specific data and examples in the application to show how the candidate meets the criteria.
A commitment to educating the whole child by
- Ensuring that students learn about and practice healthy lifestyles.
- Providing an intellectually challenging environment that is physically and emotionally safe.
- Actively and consistently engaging students in their own learning and helping them feel connected to the school and broader community.
- Creating an environment where students have access to personalized learning.
- Working with staff, parents, and community stakeholders to help students develop the skills and attitudes that will ultimately prepare them for college, further study, and employment in the global market.
Demonstrated leadership by
- Building rapport, community, and collegiality among colleagues.
- Collaborating with major stakeholders such as parents, community members, and representatives of the business and public sectors.
- Supporting the values of professionalism and collegiality among members of the educational community.
- Modeling professional growth and self-evaluation to reinforce the principles of continuous learning and improvement.
- Promoting and pursuing opportunities to exercise leadership in such areas as instruction, assessment, classroom management, professional development, and organizational development.
A demonstrated positive impact on student learning by
- Determining student needs and interests and setting appropriate goals to accommodate them.
- Using assessment to adapt instruction to accommodate learner needs.
- Engaging students in their own learning and assessment.
- Analyzing data to make valid instructional decisions.
- Implementing programs and improvement efforts for student achievement.
- Supporting the school's performance targets related to student achievement.
Contributions to the education profession by
- Contributing to and promoting a culture of continuous learning.
- Seeking opportunities to engage in professional growth activities and sharing learning with colleagues.
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Who is eligible to be an Outstanding Young Educator Award winner?
ASCD welcomes nominations from across the globe; we currently have winners from the United States, Canada, and India, and encourage educators worldwide to nominate themselves or a colleague for the award.
It is at the discretion of the nominator to choose the category for the candidate. A candidate may be nominated for either the Teacher or the Administrator category.
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Why does an educator need to be 40 years old or younger to be eligible for this program?
ASCD believes in the importance of honoring the outstanding efforts of the next generation of educators as we continue to shape education in the 21st century. So although many other award programs often honor educators later in their careers, ASCD created the OYEA program to highlight the exceptional work of younger education leaders.
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Selection Process and Awards
How are OYEA winners selected?
Candidates for the Outstanding Young Educator Award progress through a five-stage process to be selected as an OYEA winner.
- Nominators submit online applications nominating candidates. The only material considered is the application.
- The ASCD Selection Committee asks exemplary candidates to submit a personal statement of 500 words or less describing leadership and impact on students, school, or district.
- The committee selects a small number of these exemplary nominees based on the personal statements and the application rating to participate in a video interview.
- After each of these nominees has participated in the video interview, the committee deliberates and selects the honorees based on the video interviews, personal statements, and nominations.
- A distinguished panel of judges reviews the applications, personal statements, and video interviews of the honorees and chooses a winner from either the Teacher or the Administrator category, or both.
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If I am selected as an honoree or a winner, what do I receive?
The ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award Winner receives
- A check for $10,000.
- An all-expenses paid trip to the ASCD Annual Conference in March for the winner and one companion, including registration, travel, hotel, and meals.
- Award presentation at the ASCD Annual Conference.
- An ASCD Institutional membership.
- Professional development and leadership opportunities through ASCD.
- Opportunities to network and share best practices.
- Recognition throughout the worldwide education community.
Honorees in the Outstanding Young Educator Award Program receive
- A check for $500.
- Complimentary registration for the ASCD Annual Conference in March.
- A complimentary one-year ASCD Premium membership.
- Professional development and leadership opportunities through ASCD.
- Opportunities to network and share best practices.
- Recognition throughout the worldwide education community.
The select group of candidates with exemplary applications from which the honorees are chosen will receive a complimentary one-year ASCD Select membership.
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What kind of professional development opportunities does ASCD offer to the OYEA winner and honorees?
ASCD offers a wide range of professional development opportunities. ASCD will work with OYEA winners and honorees to develop customized professional development opportunities according to each educator's strengths and goals.
Professional development opportunities may include but are not limited to:
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What if I am already an ASCD member and receive a complimentary membership as an honoree, winner, or nominator?
If you are a current ASCD member, your membership will be upgraded (if applicable) and extended for one year.
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Who comprises the distinguished panel of judges?
ASCD invites leaders from national education organizations, school districts, and businesses concerned with education to serve two- to three-year terms. Panelists have included principals, superintendents, corporate education leaders, and past OYEA winners.
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Who is on the selection committee?
ASCD staff members are selected to serve a rotating three-year term. Staff members represent a wide variety of experience in the field of education.
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Completing the Nomination Form
What Internet browser should I use to complete the nomination form?
Although the online OYEA nomination form can be completed using any Internet browser, we recommend using Internet Explorer to complete the form.
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Can I copy and paste text from another document into the online nomination form?
Yes. However, you should only use plain text when pasting text from another document into the online nomination form.
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Is there a cutoff birth date for nominees?
Yes. A candidate may not be older than 40 years old at the time of receiving the award. (The award is given at ASCD’s Annual Conference.) The nomination form excludes any birth date that indicates the nominee is over 40 years old.
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Can I submit a nomination even if the nomination deadline has passed?
No late submissions are accepted. If a nomination is submitted after the August 1 deadline for a particular year, that nomination will be included in the following year’s selection process.
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