INTRODUCTION
At the heart of every successful bilingual education program are caring and
dedicated teachers who believe in the value of dual language instruction as a way to help language minority students excel academically. These are women and men who approach the teaching and learning process with a remarkable sense of responsibility and are guided in their actions by the deepseated conviction that every student is important, that education matters, and that one teacher can make a difference. These are indeed extraordinary educators whose daily work in the classroom is performed con orgullo y excelencia. In recognition of outstanding teaching and exemplary professional service by bilingual education teachers throughout Texas, the Texas Association for Bilingual Education has established the TABE Bilingual Education Elementary Teacher of the Year Award.
AWARD
The winner of this year’s 2021 Bilingual Education Teacher of the Year competition will be publicly acknowledged and honored during the HYBRID fall conference. The winning teacher of this award will receive a special plaque recognizing his/her outstanding work in teaching along with free registration to the 2021 HYBRID TABE Conference. The winner will automatically become the TABE nominee for the National Association for Bilingual Education Teacher of the Year competition.
NOMINATIONS
Only local affiliates of TABE are eligible to nominate Bilingual Education
teachers for this competition. Each affiliate is limited to one nominee. Members holding the office of president of local TABE affiliates are ineligible to participate in this competition. Local affiliate groups may use any method they choose for selecting a candidate for this award as long as the process is fair and impartial and conducted without regard to age, sex, race or ethnicity, handicapping conditions, or religion. The selection must be based on evidence of outstanding bilingual education instruction.
QUALIFICATIONS
Nominees must meet these qualification requirements:
Full-time classroom bilingual education teacher at the elementary level in a TEA-approved bilingual education program
Texas bilingual education teacher for at least three consecutive years prior to receiving this award and be actively engaged in full-time teaching in a bilingual education classroom at the time of the award
Certified or endorsed in bilingual education
Current member of TABE
Current member of NABE
Recognized by the local affiliate for outstanding teaching
Provide documentation that indicates that the nominee enjoys the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues
Exhibit distinguished leadership service to the profession and the community