Prime Minister's Awards
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2009 Guidelines and Nomination Form
For most of us, at least one teacher stands out in our memories — someone who encouraged, enabled and inspired us to do our very best. Teachers play a tremendous role, not only in the academic achievement of students, but in the attitudes and abilities they carry with them beyond the classroom.
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 technology (ICT) to better equip their students with the skills needed to meet the challenges of a 21st century society and economy.
- Awards
- Recognition
- Promotion
- Eligibility
- Nominators
- Renomination
- How Recipients are Chosen
- Selection Criteria
- How to Apply
- Nomination Deadline
- Assembling a Nomination Package
- Helpful Hints in Preparing a Nomination Text
- Address
- Acknowledgements
- Checklist
- Nomination Form
- PDF Format
Awards
- Up to 15 Certificates of Excellence (national level), including a financial award of $5,000.
- Up to 50 Certificates of Achievement (regional level), including a financial award of $1,000.
Certificates of Excellence are awarded to the 15 top-ranked nominees, with at least one award designated for each of the following regions: British Columbia; the Prairies; the North (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut); Ontario; Quebec; and Atlantic Canada. In addition, at least one Certificate of Excellence is designated for the top-ranked, self-identified Aboriginal1 teacher, teaching at a First Nation school, on-reserve.
Up to 50 of the next top-ranked nominees each receive a Certificate of Achievement. Of these, at least one Certificate of Achievement will be awarded annually to a self-identified Aboriginal1 teacher, teaching at a First Nation school, on-reserve.
Financial awards for the Certificates of Excellence are shared evenly between the recipient and the recipient’s school or teaching institution (as identified on the nomination form) to be spent under the recipient’s direction. If a winning teacher changes schools, financial awards go to the school at which the recipient was teaching at the time of nomination. Financial awards for the Certificates of Achievement are sent directly to recipients.
Award funds may be used for professional development, equipment such as computers, software, and audio-visual and laboratory equipment, resource materials, website development, teaching aids, or other tools to improve teaching and student learning.
1Members of First Nations, Métis and Inuit are invited to self-identify as Aboriginal for the purposes of this award. North American Indians or members of a First Nation include status, treaty or registered Indians, as well as non-status and non-registered Indians. Non-Aboriginal nominees working on-reserve may also be eligible for these awards in the event that no eligible nominations from Aboriginal teachers on-reserve are received.
Recognition
All winning teachers receive a certificate, a PMA pin and a letter of congratulations from the Prime Minister.
Certificate of Excellence recipients may also be invited to participate in best practice sessions and attend a special event where the Prime Minister will formally announce the PMA recipients and present them with their award certificates.
Certificate of Achievement recipients are honoured at school or community events involving principals, peers, students and local members of Parliament, as appropriate.
Each recipient’s school also receives a certificate, signed by the Prime Minister, recognizing its support and contribution to the teacher’s achievement.
Promotion
The achievements of all recipients are promoted both nationally and in the teachers’ home communities. Certificate of Excellence recipients are profiled, with their permission, in the Prime Minister’s Awards Exemplary Practices publication, which can be viewed across Canada and around the world at www.pma.gc.ca. Certificate of Achievement recipients are also highlighted in this publication.
Eligibility
Upon submission of the nomination no later than April 20, 2009, all nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Nominees must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- Nominees must be certified to teach in a public or private school in a Canadian province/territory (a copy of original teaching certification must be provided).
- Nominees must teach full-time in a Canadian school at the elementary or secondary level. Part-time teachers may be nominated, provided that they teach the equivalent of 2.5 days a week in a classroom setting (or as defined by provincial or territorial guidelines).
- Nominees must have taught in a Canadian school for at least three years.
- A nominee’s teaching certification must remain in good standing with the provincial/territorial governing body (proof of teaching certification status is required — letter from province/territory or College of Teachers will be accepted).
Posthumous nominations are not accepted.
The Prime Minister’s Awards are designed to honour the overall accomplishments of a single teacher or a teaching team of up to three teachers. The program is not intended to recognize the achievements of an entire school or teaching staff. When team members teach in different schools, boards or districts, any cash award is shared equally among the institutions.
Teachers of young children who are not eligible for this award may be eligible for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education. Nomination guidelines are available at www.pma.gc.ca, by sending an e-mail to pmaece-ppmepe@gc.ca or by calling 613-946-0651.
Nominators
Nominators may be any person or group with direct knowledge of the nominee’s contribution. However, self-nominations or nominations received from a nominee’s direct family members (spouse, parents, siblings or children) will not be accepted.
Renomination
Recipients of a Certificate of Achievement may be renominated for a Certificate of Excellence in a subsequent year, but are ineligible for a second Achievement award. Unsuccessful nominees may be renominated in a subsequent year. In all cases, complete and updated nomination packages must be submitted. Previous recipients of a Certificate of Excellence are not eligible.
How Recipients are Chosen
A committee of representatives of education stakeholders from across Canada review all nominations received for the Prime Minister’s Awards. See current list of organizations represented in the selection committee on our website: www.pma.gc.ca.
Nominations are evaluated in two stages, by regional and national selection committees. Each nomination is reviewed by five separate members of the regional selection committee. Then, the top-ranked nominees are evaluated by the national selection committee. A final list of top-ranked individuals is then recommended to the Prime Minister for recognition.
Selection Criteria
Award recipients are selected based on their innovative use of information and communications technology (ICT) in the classroom, the excellence and innovation of their teaching practices, their ability to achieve outstanding results with students, to inspire them to learn and continue learning, and to equip them with the knowledge, attitudes and skills they will need to succeed in tomorrow’s society and economy.In selecting award recipients, the committee looks for clear evidence that nominees have excelled in all of the following six areas.
1. Integration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the Classroom
The innovative and effective use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the classroom is a key consideration for selection. This award recognizes outstanding teachers who use ICT to enhance learning experiences and improve learning outcomes for Canadian students. Examples of ICT include, but are not limited to, computers, the Internet, assistive devices, multimedia, robotics and various on-line learning tools. In order for an award recipient to be selected by the committee, the nomination text must clearly describe and provide concrete examples of teaching practices such as the following:
- innovatively and effectively using ICT in the classroom;
- integrating ICT into the curriculum and across disciplines;
- researching best practices online and incorporating these into lesson plans;
- developing collaborative computer or Internet-based projects, learning materials and resources, or showing leadership in the use of these resources;
- educating students about media awareness, cyberbullying and the safe and ethical use of the Internet in turn, helping them become good “cyber citizens”;
- using assistive devices (such as speech readers, etc.) to support children with special needs;
- providing opportunities for students to be actively engaged in hands-on learning, using a variety of multi-media technologies;
- helping students in remote communities access quality learning materials and providing them with equal opportunities for success through the use of ICT.
In selecting award recipients, committees will look for clear evidence that the nominees’ use of ICT has helped them excel in all of the five other areas listed below:
2. Innovative and Exemplary Teaching Practices
The nomination text should describe and provide concrete examples of the teaching practices that best show the teacher’s contribution to his or her students’ learning, such as the following:
- creating a particularly stimulating and innovative learning environment;
- creatively integrating a subject with, and across other disciplines;
- integrating hands-on strategies and problem-solving activities into daily teaching practices;
- using ICT in the classroom in innovative ways to improve student learning and outcomes;
- adapting provincial or territorial policies and curricula in an exceptional fashion to meet student needs;
- involving parents or the community in student learning;
- developing community- or business-education partnerships;
- demonstrating the relevance of a subject to society;
- providing constructive feedback to students.
3. Student Skills Development
The nomination text should describe and provide concrete examples of evidence of student skills development, such as students’ ability to do the following2:
- listen, understand and communicate effectively;
- demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviours;
- be creative and innovative;
- be flexible and adaptable;
- work independently or with others as a team;
- think critically and act logically;
- identify problems and implement solutions;
- show leadership and take initiative;
- use tools, technology and information systems effectively;
- find, organize and apply knowledge and information from various fields;
- set goals and manage time effectively;
- be responsible for actions taken;
- work safely;
- learn continuously.
2 Skills are drawn from The Conference Board of Canada’s Employability Skills 2000+. For more information, go to http://www.conferenceboard.ca/education.
4. Student Interest and Participation
The nomination text should describe evidence and provide concrete examples of increased student interest and participation. For example:
- high attendance rates;
- outstanding engagement of students, regardless of level or ability;
- increased student participation in extracurricular activities, educational partnerships, and co-op or apprenticeship programs, beyond course requirements;
- student participation in collaborative on-line learning;
- voluntary participation in Advanced Placement courses;
- student tutoring or mentoring of peers, students with special needs or students from lower grades.
5. Student Achievement and Performance
The nomination text should describe and provide concrete examples of the teacher’s role in improving student achievement and performance, regardless of level, with individual students, groups or classes. Evidence may include the following:
- results from in-class tests, or district or school board examinations;
- achievement in provincial, national and international contests or exams;
- achievement in co-op placements or educational partnering activities;
- receipt of awards or scholarships;
- testimonials, such as letters, class work and student journals, from parents, students, administrators, colleagues or business, college, university or other education partners.
6. Teacher Commitment and Leadership
The nomination text should describe and provide concrete examples of evidence of teacher commitment and leadership, such as the teacher’s role in the following:
- organizing or delivering professional development courses, workshops or other in-service activities;
- organizing or participating in extracurricular activities for students;
- developing and disseminating curricula and learning materials;
- preparing articles or newsletters that contribute to the teaching profession;
- continuing to develop subject matter and teaching expertise;
- doing volunteer work;
- organizing social or cultural events.
How to Apply
- Once you have identified one outstanding teacher or a team of teachers, develop a nomination package following the guidelines and checklist provided.
- Each nomination package must include a completed copy of the attached PMA nomination form. This form is also available on the Internet at www.pma.gc.ca.
- Forms must be signed by the nominee and the nominator, as well as by the nominee’s principal or supervisor.
- When there is more than one nominee, please copy and complete a separate form for each.
- When more than one nomination package is received for a teacher, nominators are asked to combine their packages.
Nomination Deadline
The deadline for nominations is April 20, 2009.
Assembling a Nomination Package
- Length: Your nomination package must not exceed 20 pages, excluding teacher certification and checklist.
- Format: All information should be typewritten in a font no smaller than 10 point and double-spaced on 8˝” x 11” paper. To ensure ease of reproduction, please print on one side only.
- Packaging: Creative packaging can certainly make a nomination package stand out. Unfortunately, the selection committee members do not get the opportunity to see it. Therefore, simple packaging is recommended.
- Binding: For ease of reproduction, please do not bind your nomination package.
- Copies: In addition to the original, please include five copies of the complete package.
Helpful Hints in Preparing A Nomination Text
An effective nomination package illustrates the outstanding achievements of the nominee and clearly explains why he or she should receive one of Canada’s highest teaching honours. As a nominator, you are “painting a picture” of a nominee’s achievements for selection committees that review hundreds of applications, so the package should be compelling.
Follow the criteria set out in the nomination guidelines. Provide adequate detail for each of the six categories of selection criteria. You may wish to organize your text using the same headings.
Provide concrete examples and details to show how the nominee has met the selection criteria and explain the impact of the teacher’s efforts. Describe any special projects, teaching philosophies, unique learning environments, extracurricular activities, student reactions, outcomes or special achievements that make this teacher stand out.
Focus on the nominee’s overall achievements. Show that the nominee is well rounded and meets all six criteria in his or her overall work, not just in one particular project. Include other activities the teacher participates in for his or her students, fellow educators or school, such as extracurricular activities, volunteer work, professional development or social events.
Refer to the checklist on page 10 to ensure you have included all necessary information.
Please send nomination packages to the following address:
Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence
Industry Canada
300 Slater Street, 20th floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C8
For more information, please send an email or call the Prime Minister's Awards program at 613-946-0651
Acknowledgments
Industry Canada is grateful to our partners in the Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence — Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the RBC Foundation and Research In Motion — for their generous support. In addition, the program could not function without the important contribution of volunteers from education organizations from across Canada who take part in the award selection process. These include teachers’ federations, parent-teacher associations, post-secondary institutions, provincial and territorial education ministries, business organizations and student groups. A list of participating organizations is available on request or on the program website: www.pma.gc.ca.
Checklist
- To facilitate the preparation of the nomination package and its review by the PMA office, you may want to attach this checklist to your nomination package.
Nomination Form
- Note: Print and complete one Nomination Form for each nominee.
PDF Version
If the following document is not accessible to you, please contact us to obtain other appropriate formats.
The following documents are available for downloading or viewing:
- Guidelines and Nomination Form — Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence — 2009 (PDF 477 KB, 16 pages)
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