Outstanding Young Educator Award FAQs
Nominations
Criteria
Selection Process and Awards
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?
No.
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When are online applications available?
January through August 2009.
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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 Web site.
- Incomplete or nominations submitted after August 1, 2009, will not be considered for the 2010 award.
Nominations are currently open.
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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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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?
- A candidate may not be older than 40 years old at the time of receiving the award.
- A candidate must be a full-time preK–20 educator.
- A candidate must be nominated by an eligible nominator; a candidate may not self-nominate.
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?
Within five years, school systems anticipate a serious shortage of teachers and administrators. As a result, ASCD is seeking the next generation of educational leaders to enable the education community to learn from them and to work collaboratively with them as we continue to shape education in the 21st century.
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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 applications online 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.
- Based on the personal statements and the application rating, honorees are selected and invited to participate in the OYEA program.
- Each honoree participates in a video interview with the ASCD selection committee.
- A distinguished panel of judges reviews the applications, personal statements, and video interviews of a select group of 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.
- A personal profile in ASCD's flagship publication, Educational Leadership magazine.
- 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:
- Invitation to attend a networking meeting at ASCD Annual Conference (March).
- Participation in the ASCD Leader to Leader (L2L) Event (July).
- Invitation to attend the LEAP Legislative Institute (September).
- Participation in professional development training to
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- Improve speaking and facilitation skills.
- Write for publications.
- Enhance leadership and advocacy skills.
- Create professional development products, such as video programs, action tools, and online courses.
- Opportunities to write for and contribute to the ASCD Inservice blog.
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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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