ATPE Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Awards

The ATPE Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Awards acknowledge ATPE members who demonstrate exceptional or innovative capabilities in their respective education fields. Each recipient is awarded with a check for $5,000. The Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Awards are divided into five categories:

• Administrator of the Year
  • Principals and assistant principals
  • Superintendents  
• Associate of the Year: Please note—former professionals with five or more years of experience as a professional (teacher of record/contract employee) should not be nominated or apply under the Associate category.
  • Teacher’s aides
  • Bus drivers
  • Substitute teachers
  • Food service/nutrition employees
  • Custodial staff
  • Secretaries and administrative assistants
• Elementary Teacher of the Year
  • Classroom teachers at the elementary level
  • Elementary-level music, art, and physical education teachers
  • Special education/Life Skills teachers at the elementary level
• Secondary Teacher of the Year
  • Classroom teachers at the secondary level
  • Secondary-level music, art, and physical education teachers and coaches
  • Special education/Life Skills teachers at the secondary level
• Special Services Educator of the Year
  • Counselors
  • Diagnosticians
  • Special education/Life Skills aides
  • ARD specialists
  • Speech therapists and other specialists
  • Technologists

1. Members must be nominated for the award. No self-nominations are allowed.
2. Those wishing to submit a nomination must complete the nomination form below by January 1, 2020.
3. The ATPE staff will contact nominees regarding the application and essay required to complete the nomination process.
4. Nominees for Administrator of the Year must have three or more years of administrative experience prior to the current school year. Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year and Special Services Educator of the Year nominees must have five or more years of experience prior to the current school year. Associate of the Year nominees must have three or more years of education experience prior to the current school year.
5. All members of a local unit with a representative currently sitting on the Educator of the Year Committee are ineligible to receive the award.
6. If selected as a finalist, the nominee must be present at the annual ATPE Summit for oral interviews and the awards and entertainment banquet.

A committee of ATPE members is selected each year by the state president and approved by the Board of Directors. This judging committee will review all applications and select up to three finalists for each category. Following oral interviews, the committee will select the recipients.

1. Nominations for Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year must be received via the online form no later than January 1, 2020.
2. Nominees must submit completed applications by February 1, 2020, at midnight. Emailed PDF files are preferred. Any applications that are mailed must be postmarked by February 1, 2020.
3. The committee will complete scoring of applications by March 1, 2020.
4. Finalists will be notified in early April so they may make travel arrangements for the ATPE Summit.

Nominee essay questions

Nominees will be asked to answer each question for their respective categories.

1. Philosophy: Describe your concept of what makes an outstanding administrator. How have you applied this concept in your position?
2. Education Trends: Which educational trends have shown the most promise in your school district? How have you encouraged their implementation?
3. Communication and Leadership: In your daily interactions with staff and students, how do you promote effective communication? What methods do you use to motivate others?
4. Biography: Please briefly describe any awards or recognitions you have received and/or any special projects or committees with which you have been involved. Describe what you consider to be your greatest contribution and/or accomplishment in education.

Associate of the Year (e.g., educational aide, secretary, bus driver, etc.)

1. Philosophy: Describe your concept of what makes an outstanding associate. How have you applied this concept in your position? Describe the rewards you find in the school environment.
2. Education Trends: Which educational trends have shown the most promise on your campus? How have you encouraged their implementation?
3. Communication and Leadership: In your daily interactions with staff and students, how do you promote effective communication? What methods do you use to motivate others?
4. Biography: Please briefly describe any awards or recognitions you have received and/or any special projects or committees with which you have been involved. Describe what you consider to be your greatest contribution and/or accomplishment in education.

 

1. Philosophy: Describe your concept of what makes an outstanding educator. How have you applied this concept in your position?
2. Education Trends: Which educational trends have shown the most promise on your campus? How have you encouraged their implementation?
3. Communication and Leadership: In your daily interactions with staff and students, how do you promote effective communication? What methods do you use to motivate others?
4. Biography: Please briefly describe any awards or recognitions you have received and/or any special projects or committees with which you have been involved. Describe what you consider to be your greatest contribution and/or accomplishment in education.

1. Philosophy of Teaching: Describe your personal feelings and beliefs about your profession, including your concept of what makes an outstanding educator. Describe the rewards you find in your position.
2. Education Trends: Which educational trends have shown the most promise on your campus? How have you encouraged their implementation?
3. Communication and Leadership: In your daily interactions with staff and students, how do you promote effective communication? What methods do you use to motivate others?
4. Biography: Please briefly describe any awards or recognitions you have received and/or any special projects or committees with which you have been involved. Describe what you consider to be your greatest contribution and/or accomplishment in education.

Essay question criteria

• Nominees should answer each question for their respective categories and limit responses to one typed, double-spaced 8 ½ x 11” page per question (front and back). 
• Use Arial or Times New Roman with a minimum font size of 11 pt. 
• Pages exceeding the one-page-per-question front and back limit will not be considered by the judging committee.