Nominations for the Hart Vision Awards for teacher and volunteer of the year are now closed. The awards will be presented at the 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference.
The California Charter Schools Association welcomes nominations for the 2011 Hart Vision Awards. The awards recognize individuals that have made significant contributions to the Association's mission to increase student achievement by supporting and expanding California's quality charter public school movement.
The Hart Vision Awards, established in 1995, are named in honor of Gary K. Hart, retired California State Senator and former California Secretary of Education. While serving as state senator, Hart sponsored the legislation that established California charter schools.
Goals of the Hart Vision Awards:
- To recognize and honor annually individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence
- To model best practices
- To communicate and impact educational issues and policies by awarding excellence in the charter schools movement
Deadline
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, Oct 15, 2010. No late applications will be accepted.
Nomination Categories
This year, the California Charter Schools Association is seeking online nominations in two categories:
- Teacher of the Year
- Community Member/Volunteer of the Year
A teacher or community member/volunteer can be nominated by someone at a member school or self-nominate and submit a letter of recommendation. A selection committee of teachers, school leaders and staff will be formed to select the winners based on specific criteria.
Other Categories
The other Hart Vision Award categories, school of the year and leader of the year, will be chosen this year by a committee made up of the Association member council and Association staff.
Award Criteria
Requirements for Teacher of the Year nominees
- A credentialed classroom teacher in a California public charter school
- Teaching is the nominee's primary responsibility
- Demonstrates an established commitment to the mission and goals of the school;
- Possess strong content area expertise and delivers content in a meaningful and engaging manner that is age appropriate;
- Incorporates innovative instructional materials, curriculum or strategies, such as interdisciplinary instruction, project-based learning, research-based programs, or technology to support and enhance instruction;
- Demonstrates leadership in educational activities at the school and/or state and national level that take place both within or out of the school setting;
- Utilizes and shares data to maximize student success;
- Engages in ongoing professional learning through completion of specific training and/or advanced degrees;
- Participates in peer coaching and mentoring activities;
- Engages parents/families as partners in the learning process to enhance student achievement.
Nominators will be asked the following questions about the nominee:
- Nominee's Achievements: Please describe how the nominee advances the mission and goals of the school.
- How does the nominee use innovative strategies, materials and curricula to support and enhance instruction?
- Please describe an example of when the nominee has assumed a leadership role in order to effect change.
- How does the nominee use data to assess student learning and improve students' academic success?
- How does the nominee encourage parent participation in student learning?
If a nominee is creating a self-nomination they will be asked to submit a letter of recommendation. Self nominations without a letter of recommendation will not be reviewed.
Requirements for Charter School Community Member/Volunteer of the Year Nominees
- Exceeds expectations and demonstrates initiative, creativity and leadership;
- Demonstrates an established commitment to the mission and goals of the school;
- Fosters support for the school among stakeholders in the broader community;
- Creates a lasting, significant impact on the school community.
Nominators will be asked the following questions about the nominee:
- Please explain how the nominee assumed a leadership role in order to effect change within the school.
- Describe initiatives the nominee has planned and led to advance the mission and goals of the school.
If a nominee is creating a self-nomination they will be asked to submit a letter of recommendation. Self nominations without a letter of recommendation will not be reviewed.
Questions
If you run into technical problems with the system, please e-mail or call 800-280-6218 or 541-346-3537.
Notification of Winners
Award winners will be notified by the week of Dec. 10, 2010. Award winners will be honored at the 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference in San Diego, California, March 7–10, 2011.
Rules and Conditions
Schools/individuals that have been nominated for an award, but did not win in the past are encouraged to reapply this year. Multiple nominations will not increase nominee's chance of winning. We strongly encourage school communities to collaborate on each nomination thoughtfully. Only one nomination per nominee will be reviewed. The California Charter Schools Association welcomes nominations for the 2011 Hart Vision Awards. The awards recognize individuals that have made significant contributions to the Association's mission to increase student achievement by supporting and expanding California's quality charter public school movement.
