How are the winners selected?

Once the nominating period closes, the selection committee will read all of the nominations (without names associated). Then, using the criteria below, the committee will pick at least one teacher from each school to receive an award (two awards will go to the high school). In addition, one award will be set aside for a special education teacher, regardless of their school(s). There are three “at-large” awards that can be given to teachers at any of Montclair’s 11 public schools. 

The selection committee is composed of 12 members, a combination of education professionals and community leaders.

The awardees will be notified at the end of April and presented with their awards in June. All nominees will be announced as well as the awardees, in order to highlight the breadth and depth of excellence in our schools.

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About the selection criteria

Please consider the following when you are creating your nomination.  The selection committee will be looking for examples of any of the following - your nomination should include an example of at least one of these criteria.

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Teaching that facilitates impactful learning experiences

• Develops meaningful work that is interesting to students, sparks critical thinking, and is connected to their lives

• Uses innovative practices to engage learners 

• Sets high expectations, recognizes progress, and provides critical feedback to help students improve

• Creates opportunities for students to assess their own learning

• Provides students with options for engaging in learning and completing assignments

• Fosters students’ intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth 

 

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Teaching that supports all students

• Sets clear learning goals for students

• Tailors lessons according to the needs of students

• Offers specific suggestions on how to improve work

• Has a system of regular check-ins with individual students to assess strengths and weaknesses

• Conducts varied and consistent ways to check for understanding

• Explains things in different ways

• Uses varied instructional strategies to challenge students

• Demonstrates patience

 

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Teaching that creates a caring classroom culture that affirms student identities

• Makes students feel like they are valued members of the classroom and invites student thoughts and opinions 

• Ensures different backgrounds and perspectives are valued and supported

• Includes positive representations of diverse people and cultures

• Creates opportunities for students to build strong relationships with one another

• Knows the strengths and weakness of each student 

• Cares about students’ lives outside of the classroom

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