TO: All Administrators and Principals
FROM: James Pohl, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer
Lynnell Gibson, Ed.D., Chief Schools Officer
COPIES Sharon I. Byrdsong, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
Kenita Matthews, APR, Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Dr. Doreatha White, Executive Director of Elementary Schools
Dr. D. Jean Jones, Executive Director of Elementary Schools
Dr. Barbara Kimzey, Executive Director of Secondary Schools
SUBJECT: 2021 Teacher of the Year Program
All Norfolk Public Schools are invited to participate in the Teacher of the Year program to potentially select the next Virginia Teacher of the Year and to honor teachers who represent the best in teaching in the Commonwealth and the Nation.
The program is open to all teachers in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve who possess a current teaching license, including media specialists, school counselors, and reading specialists. Teachers holding provisional licenses are not eligible to participate in the program. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requires all candidates to be, at a minimum, three-year tenured teachers within their school district. Candidates should be dedicated, knowledgeable, skilled, and plan to continue in active teaching status. Candidates who accept administrative or supervisory positions will relinquish their eligibility.
All teachers, faculty and staff can share in the process of selecting their Teacher of the Year. All schools will allow self or peer nominations for Teacher of the Year using the 2021 Nomination Form. Nomination forms will be given to the principal or designee, and a final candidate will be voted on by faculty and staff. As part of the application process, each Teacher of the Year candidate will complete an application and be required to submit a 10-15 minute video teaching a lesson (Zoom or concurrent teaching lesson), which will serve as a classroom observation. The video must be submitted with the application. Please submit your Teacher of the Year names to Karen Tanner (ktanner@nps.k12.va.us) via e-mail by April 28, 2021.
Each school candidate will become a member of the All-City Teaching Team. When selecting Norfolk’s Teacher of the Year, NPS employs a process similar to the state’s Teacher of the Year selection process. An external team will review the application packets and videos submitted by each Teacher of the Year candidate and select the top eight (8) winners. From the top eight (8), three (3) outstanding candidates will be selected to move on to the final phase of selection.
The following items can be found on the Teacher of the Year webpage at www.npsk12.com/TOY: (1) Application Guidelines and Online Application; (2) Suggestions for Nomination and Selection; (3) Nomination Form; and (4) Principal Nomination Form. The selection timeline for the 2021 Teacher of the Year will be as follows:
By April 28: Principals will forward the names of all staff nominated for Teacher of the Year to Karen Tanner (ktanner@nps.k12.va.us) for placement on the All-City Teaching Team list and media announcement via the NPS website.
By May 12: All completed Teacher of the Year online applications and videos must be submitted for review by their respective Executive Directors no later than 4:00 p.m. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. Note: All videos must be submitted at the same time as the application.
By May 21: The Executive Director Vetting Team will review the Teacher of -the Year portfolios and recommend eight (8) teachers (two elementary, four secondary and two auxiliary) to the Selection Committee.
May 26: The Teacher of the Year Selection Committee will review all observations and documentation to determine the top three (3) semi-finalists.
The All-City Teaching Team recognition will be a COVID-friendly celebration with special visits to their schools to honor their accomplishment.
We realize this is an extremely busy time of the year and appreciate your support in selecting Norfolk Public Schools’ 2021 Teacher of the Year. Thank you in advance for your hard work and dedication to make this year’s Teacher of the Year successful.
Please contact Kenita Matthews at kmatthews@nps.k12.va.us if you have questions at 757-353-9339. Thank You!
