Canada’s teachers and early childhood educators play a critical role in helping the next generation gain the knowledge and skills they need for future success in a world inspired by ideas and driven by innovation.
The Prime Minister’s Awards (PMAs) for Teaching Excellence honour outstanding and innovative elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines who instill in their students a love of learning and who utilize information and communications technologies (ICTs) to better equip their students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a 21st century society and economy.
On behalf of the program, I am writing to invite your organization to identify a representative to take part in the 2016 regional selection process for the PMAs. This year’s competition will be launched in early October 2016 with a nomination deadline of January 5, 2017.
The success of this program is largely due to the tremendous contributions of our volunteer selection committees. Past members have reported that taking part in the selection process is an excellent professional development opportunity, providing rare insight into the innovative ideas and best practices of outstanding teachers across Canada.
Recipients are selected through a rigorous two-tier process involving expert reviewers from across the country including: parent/teacher associations; teachers’ federations; provincial/territorial ministries of education; university faculties of education and the private sector. By agreeing to participate in this selection process, your organization will be acknowledged on our website. We hope your organization will decide to take part!
Here are some considerations to keep in mind:
- Each regional selection committee member will be asked to review 8 to 10 nominations (sent electronically, not exceeding 20 pages each).
- Each nomination is to be evaluated based on current guidelines and generally takes no more than 1 hour to review and evaluate. You will have approximately four weeks to complete the evaluations.
No travel is required by committee members as everything is done by email/mail/fax and conference call.
If your organization would like to participate in the PMA selection process, please forward this information to a suitable representative whom you feel best meets the criteria set out in the attached Profile of an Evaluator as well as our Conflict of Interest Guidelines. We also ask that the enclosed Contact Information sheet be completed and sent by October 28, 2016 (if possible) by email to Alex.Meduri@canada.ca or by fax to 613-998-0943.
I hope your organization will decide to accept this invitation by identifying a representative to take part in this prestigious program to honour and promote teaching excellence in Canada. Whether you decide to participate or not, I would also greatly appreciate if you could post a link to our program on your website and/or distribute information regarding the PMA within your organization.
Web link to 2016 Prime Minister’s Awards Competition: