OTTAWA, October 15, 2007 — On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, today announced the launch of the 2008 nomination process for the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education.
"It is my pleasure to announce the launch of this competition, which will honour our most outstanding educators. Our teachers have a unique opportunity to educate and influence the children in their classroom and help them become the leaders of tomorrow," said Minister Prentice. "In addition, early childhood educators inspire our youngest citizens to build a foundation for learning, behaviour and health over their lifetimes."
Teaching Excellence award recipients are selected based on their innovative use of information and communications technologies in the classroom; the excellence and innovation of their teaching practices; and 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 an ever-changing society and economy. The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence are funded in partnership with RBC Foundation.
Excellence in Early Childhood Education award recipients are selected based on their innovative approaches and outstanding ability to engage and support the development of the children in their care, and on their overall commitment to the development of children and the early childhood education and care profession. The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education are administered by Industry Canada in partnership with Health Canada and Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
The deadline for nominations is December 17, 2007. Nomination forms and further information regarding the Prime Minister's Awards can be found at http://www.pma.gc.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
Prime Minister's Awards
for Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Program Backgrounder
Most will agree that the early years of children's lives are critical. The educators who partner with parents to teach and nurture young children in those years have an impact that will last for the rest of the children's lives. For most children, at least one educator will stand out as someone who encouraged, enabled and inspired them to be their very best when they were very young.
The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education honour outstanding and innovative early childhood educators who excel at fostering the early development and socialization of the children in their care, and at helping build the foundation children need to meet life's challenges.
Awards are selected by an external selection committee comprising early childhood education experts from across Canada. These experts select recipients based on their innovative approaches and outstanding ability to engage and support the development of the children in their care, and on their overall commitment to the development of children and the early childhood education and care profession. Nominees are judged on their overall merits as educators.
For early childhood educators, the committee looks for clear evidence that nominees have excelled in the following four areas:
support of child development;
innovation;
involvement with parents, families and the community; and
commitment and leadership in the field.
Early childhood educators are eligible for two awards: the Certificate of Excellence and the Certificate of Achievement. All recipients receive a certificate and pin, along with a letter from the Prime Minister. Winning educators receive a cash award of either $5000 (Excellence) or $1000 (Achievement), which may be used for professional development, equipment, resource materials or other tools to improve developmental programming and children's experiences related to the educator's work. Up to 10 Certificates of Excellence and up to 15 Certificates of Achievement are provided per competition. At least one Certification of Excellence and one Certificate of Achievement are designated for the top-ranked aboriginal early childhood educator.
For more information about the program, please visit the Prime Minister's Awards web site at http://www.pma.gc.ca.
Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence
Program Backgrounder
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 for Teaching Excellence honour outstanding and innovative elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines who use information and communications technology (ICT) to better equip their students with the skills they need to meet the challenges of a 21st-century society and economy.
Award recipients are selected by education stakeholders from across Canada who participate in national and regional selection committees. These stakeholders select recipients based on their innovative use of ICTs in the classroom, the excellence and innovation of their teaching practices, and 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.
Specifically, for teachers they recognize nominees who have excelled in the following areas:
integration of ICT in the classroom;
innovative and exemplary teaching practices;
student skills development;
student interest and participation;
student achievement and performance; and
teacher commitment and leadership.
Teachers are eligible for two awards: the Certificate of Excellence and the Certificate of Achievement. All recipients receive a certificate and pin, along with a letter from the Prime Minister. Winning teachers' schools receive a cash award of either $5000 (Excellence) or $1000 (Achievement), which may be used under the teacher's direction for professional development or equipment, resource materials, web site development, teaching aids, or other tools to improve teaching and student learning. The recipient's school also receives a certificate recognizing its support of and contribution to the teacher's achievement. Up to 15 Certificates of Excellence and up to 50 Certificates of Achievement are provided per competition.
For more information about the program, please visit the Prime Minister's Awards web site at http://www.pma.gc.ca.
