K- 12 Instructional
Resource Center
K12IRC.ORG
The Next ISTE Award Winner Might Be You!
Now is the time to start thinking about nominating yourself or someone else for an ISTE
award. The awards program honors exceptional educators who advance the field, demonstrate vision and innovation, and expand student horizons. We sat down with Heidi Ellis,
ISTE’s membership program manager, to learn more about the awards program.
Over 2,100 carefully
selected and
annotated links will
provide you with the
tools you need to
create exciting,
topical lesson plans
and curriculum. Like
an Instructional Resource Center
in the real world, you will find...
a solid foundation for
supporting standards and
assessment practices,
classroom projects, lessons,
units, field trips, extended
studies, and international
databases in almost every
subject and across subjects,
references and projects to
challenge your students,
ideas & resources to integrate
the new media tools,
tips for school, family, industry,
and community partnerships,
tools for planning, using and
managing your own
environment,
professional development and
publishing opportunities.
Information
and Resources
for the K- 12
community
What are some of the things judges look for in award applications?
Each award has different criteria, but generally we’re looking for innovative educators who
have successfully integrated technology to improve their teaching and/or students’ learning
in an outstanding way. Nominations may be judged on actual artifacts that can be modeled
by other educators or their level of involvement in advocating for educational technology.
What do awardees get if they win?
While each award includes different prize winnings, all awardees are recognized at ISTE’s
annual conference and exposition. Additionally, some winners receive travel stipends to the
conference, complimentary membership to ISTE, cash prizes, and ISTE products.
How long does it take to complete an award application?
The time it takes depends on the award category and the individual applicant. Applicants
should review the required materials. Most awards require a statement or response to essay
questions in addition to recommendation letters or teaching artifacts. Gathering all materials
electronically ahead of time expedites the application process.
Who judges the categories?
Judges include past award winners, volunteers who have signed up to be a judge through
our online form, ISTE staff, and members at large who have expertise in that category. To be
considered as a judge, apply for a volunteer position in early 2013.
Anything new this year?
Yes! Previously you had to be nominated by your ISTE affiliate for the Oustanding Leader
and Outstanding Teacher awards, but now anyone can nominate themselves. This change
opens up the award to a much wider pool of applicants and allows multiple applicants from
each affiliate. Additionally, all award winners will receive complimentary (new or renewing)
membership to their local affiliate.
The K- 12 Instructional Resource
Center is chockfull of the best-of-breed resources for designing,
implementing, and refreshing
lesson plans and curriculum.
Your One-Stop Resource For
Curriculum And Professional
Development.
Used as a professional development
resource by the Stanford School of
Education and the Exploratorium,
K12IMC.org is a non-profit resource,
maintained by Dr. Bonnie Tenenbaum.
Aren’t the winners usually veteran teachers with lots of experience and credentials?
An award winner can be anyone! While some of the awards look at the breadth of
experience, many are project-based, and the Outstanding Young Educator Award is
specifically tailored to educators under 35. If you are using technology in an innovative way,
have inspired positive change in your school, or have transformed your teaching through
technology, consider nominating yourself for an ISTE Award!
Nominations open on December 1, and the deadline to apply is
February 28. For details on each award, go to
iste.org/awards.
Diana Fingal is the senior editor for L&L magazine. She has worked as a writer and editor of periodicals for more than 20 years and has been with ISTE for four years.
