Outstanding Educator Awards

Outstanding Educators

Outstanding Educator Awards Recognize Teachers, Principals, Support Employees

To cultivate an empowering, supporting, and engaging environment with a strong sense of belonging, PWCS recognizes excellence in the workplace through the Outstanding Educators program.  

Awards

The Outstanding Educator Awards program will include the following:

  • Teacher of the Year (Elementary and Secondary)
  • Novice Teacher of the Year (Elementary and Secondary)
  • Principal of the Year (Elementary and Secondary)
  • NEW! Support Employee of the Year 

How to Submit a Nomination

To nominate a teacher or support employee, please contact your child’s school.

  • The Teacher of the Year/Novice Teacher of the Year program is open to all teachers, including librarians, technology specialists, guidance counselors, and reading specialists.  
  • The Support Employee of the Year program is open to all teaching assistants, clerical and administrative, transportation, food and nutrition, custodial and maintenance, security, health and student services, technical, and skilled trades staff.   

To nominate a Principal of the Year, staff, parents, and community members are encouraged to submit their nomination via Microsoft Form to the division. Nominations are now being accepted and must be received by Monday, February 5, 2024.

Qualifications, Criteria & Process

Teacher of the Year and Novice Teacher of the Year Qualifications & Criteria

Teacher of the Year/Novice Teacher of the Year Qualifications

  • Individuals who possess current renewable Virginia teaching licenses with an endorsement(s) in the teaching assignment and who teach in Virginia public schools are eligible to participate.
  • Teacher of the Year Nominees - To be eligible for this award, teachers must have at least three years of teaching experience in a public school.
    • Teachers who are currently serving in their third school year in 2023-24 are not eligible for this award.
  • Novice Teacher of the Year Nominees - To be eligible for this award, teachers must have less than three full years of teaching experience in a public school.
    • Teachers who are currently serving in their fourth school year in 2023-24 are not eligible for this award.
  • The program is open to all teachers, including school librarians, technology specialists, guidance counselors, and reading specialists.

Teacher of the Year/Novice Teacher of the Year Criteria

Upon submission of nominee to the division (via Microsoft form), principals must confirm that each nominee meets or exceeds each standard below.

  • Is an expert in their field who guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence;
  • Collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success;
  • Deliberately connects the classroom and key stakeholders to foster a strong community at large;
  • Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning; and
  • Expresses themselves in an engaging and articulate way.

Principal of the Year Qualifications & Criteria

Principal of the Year Qualifications

  • Must be serving in a principal role in the current school year.
  • Must have at least three years of administrator experience (central and/or assistant principal and above).
  • Most recent performance evaluation must reflect meeting or exceeding standards.
  • Must be on target toward meeting Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) goals per level associate.

Principal of the Year Criteria

  • Earns the respect of their staff and students, inspires excellence and creativity, and provides an innovative vision for the future of the school.
  • Establishes meaningful relationships throughout the educational system and community and fosters a collaborative school culture that emphasizes working together within the common framework of strong educational values.
  • Maintains a continuous and open dialogue with students and parents as well as faculty and staff and considers a variety of feedback and ideas when making decisions.
  • Keeps abreast of developments in the field of education.
  • Continues to play an active role in the classroom, the lunchroom, the hallway, at morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal, and creates an environment in which staff and students can flourish and grow.

Support Employee of the Year Qualifications & Criteria

Support Employee of the Year Qualifications

  • The program is open to all full and part-time classified (non-exempt) employees (grade 11 and below) in the following support roles:
    • Teaching assistants, clerical and administrative, transportation, food and nutrition, custodial and maintenance, security, health and student services, technical, and skilled trades staff.
  • To be eligible for this award, employees must be in good standing and has successfully completed their 12-month probationary period in their current position.
  • Most recent performance evaluation must reflect meeting or exceeding standards.

Support Employee of the Year Criteria

  • Demonstrates exceptional work performance (to include consistent attendance, meeting or exceeding on their last summative evaluation, and no disciplinary infractions);
  • Demonstrates active involvement in their school and community;
  • Consistently demonstrates leadership and commitment to their school/department;
  • Garners local support from coworkers, school administrators, or community members who speaks to the nominee's exemplary work; and
  • Consistently represents support employees in a positive manner in their school and community.

Review Process for Nominees

  • A committee reviews and scores all completed applications.
  • The top finalists for each category for Teacher, Novice Teacher, and Principal of the Year receives a school visit from a review committee member(s).
  • The top finalists for each category are invited to the Outstanding Educator ceremony, where winners are announced.

Questions

For questions, please contact Michelle Colbert at [email protected].