2008 AATF Dorothy S. Ludwig Excellence in Teaching Awards
Deadline: February 1, 2007
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application form
The AATF invites nominations for four annual awards for outstanding teachers, one at each level: elementary school, middle school or junior high school, high school, and higher education (university, college, or community college). The purpose of the award is to recognize teachers who have demonstrated excellence and commitment in the teaching of the French language and French and Francophone cultures and literatures.
Each award winner will receive a framed certificate from the AATF recognizing his or her outstanding contribution to the teaching of French and a one-year complimentary membership in the AATF for 2009, a cash award, and a one-year subscription to Le Français dans le monde. An official presentation will be made at the AATF Awards Banquet in Liege, Belgium in July 2008.
Nominations may be made by any AATF member in good standing or by an AATF Chapter. The nominee must be an active member of the AATF. All documents must be submitted by February 1, 2008.
The selection committee will consist of two members of the AATF Executive Council and one member at large. Any nomination that does not conform to the guidelines below in length or content will not be considered. A teacher may receive the award only one time at a given level. If there is no suitable candidate at a given level, the AATF reserves the right not to make an award.
The AATF will acknowledge the recipients of the awards by sending a letter to their principal and/or supervisor and will issue a press release, if requested. The National Bulletin will include a feature article on the recipients.
TIME LINE
Because the awards will be presented at the annual convention, the postmark deadline for submitting all documents to the awards chairman will be February 1, 2008. Decisions will be made by March 1, 2008. Recipients will be notified by March 15 so that they can make arrangements to be present at the awards program.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
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Nominees must have a minimum of five years teaching experience at the level for which they are candidates and must be teaching currently at that level.
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Nominees must have been members of the AATF for the past five consecutive years.
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Current AATF officers are not eligible for these awards.
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Nominees must have made a significant impact on students, school, and community at the award level.
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Nominees must be active participants in AATF activities locally, regionally, or nationally.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Nomination packages will be evaluated for evidence of (1) outstanding teaching experience, (2) professional growth and development, and (3) contribution to the profession.
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demonstration of students’ exemplary proficiency in French, knowledge of French language and Francophone cultures and literatures, and motivation for continued study of French,
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increased enrollment or expansion of curricular offerings, or previous teaching awards,
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student participation in extracurricular French activities, exchange programs, internships, and competitions, or
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students’ high performances in French on standardized tests.
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participation in AATF chapter and national activities,
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participation in foreign language conferences, workshops, and seminars,
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pursuit of advanced degrees and education, or
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grant-supported research, projects, workshops, or travel.
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leadership and service in professional organizations, including the AATF
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research or presentations at conferences or publications in professional media, or
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sponsorship of extracurricular activities or student exchange programs or other innovative programs.
NOMINATION PACKET
The nomination packet may not exceed a total of five pages and must include the following:
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A résumé of education, teaching experience, membership and offices in professional organizations, AATF activities and other professional activities, and awards, using only the officially provided two-page form (found on the AATF Web site, from Chapter Presidents, and upon request from AATF Headquarters), so that all candidates will be compared in identical rubrics. This two-page required form constitutes pages one and two of the five-page packet. Cover letters from nominators will not be included as part of the five-page packet forwarded to the selection committee.
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A one-page personal statement by the nominee in which he or she addresses in detail the following topic: Of your contributions in and out of the classroom, of which are you the most proud? Explain your choice (page 3)
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Two one-page letters of recommendation that address the candidate’s teaching excellence, professional growth and development, and contributions to the profession. These two letters of recommendation are limited to one page each and constitute pages 4 and 5 of the five-page packet. They should come from colleagues or superiors who have first-hand professional knowledge of the candidate’s classroom performance.
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All nominations and forms should be submitted together. PLEASE NOTE: the nomination packet should NOT be bound or presented in a scrapbook or folder.
Submit the nomination packet to AATF Teacher Awards, Mailcode 4510, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901. The nomination must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2008.