Application Instructions 2016 Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching Congratulations on your nomination for the Humanities Texas Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching! This award recognizes exemplary contributions of early-career humanities teachers in Texas elementary, middle, and high schools who have completed three or fewer years of teaching. Two teachers will be selected to receive a $5,000 cash award and an additional $500 for their schools to purchase humanities-based instructional materials. ELIGIBILITY Nominees must be full-time teachers in Texas public or private schools. Applicants must plan to teach full-time during the 2016-17 school year. Teachers of English and language arts, foreign languages, history, and social studies are eligible for the award. Teachers of art, drama, and music are also eligible if they emphasize the history, criticism, and theory of the arts. Previous Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Award winners are ineligible to apply. CRITERIA In evaluating your application, special consideration will be given to: Innovation and creativity in teaching methods and classroom activities Proven success in engaging students in the humanities Involvement in professional and community activities Dedication and commitment to the education profession APPLICATION To be considered for this award, please submit the following materials in the order listed below. Please type all materials. 1. APPLICANT PROFILE Please complete the applicant profile using the form provided. 2. ESSAYS (limited to two pages total) Please answer the following questions on separate paper, using no more than two pages total to answer both essays. Use no smaller than 10 pt. type and no less than 1.5” line spacing. A. How do you teach your subject? Effective statements describe your teaching approach and methods, including specific classroom activities and techniques. B. Using specific examples, describe your most significant accomplishment as a teacher of the humanities. 3. LETTER(S) OF RECOMMENDATION Please provide at least one and no more than three letters of recommendation. Your nominator is eligible to write a letter. Advise each recommender that his or her letter will form a crucial component of your award application. Effective letters provide specific details regarding your accomplishments as a teacher of the humanities. Please submit letters of recommendation together with your application packet. Received: HTx #: SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Please do not submit applications electronically. Please secure your application materials with a paper clip. Do not staple or submit materials in binders, notebooks, or plastic sleeves. Retain a copy of your application for your records. Incomplete and/or handwritten applications will not be considered. All materials must be typed. Please do not submit additional or supplemental materials. They will not be considered in the selection process. Applicants will be notified by email once their applications have been received. Applications must be postmarked by Friday, February 12, 2016. Please send applications to: Outstanding Teaching Awards Humanities Texas 1410 Rio Grande Street Austin, TX 78701 Contact Liz James with any questions: 512.440.1991 or ota@humanitiestexas.org. Award winners will be notified of their selection in May 2016. Humanities Texas sponsors the Outstanding Teaching Awards program with continuing financial support provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Received: HTx #: Applicant Profile 2016 Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching TEACHER INFORMATION Your name: Mr. Ms. Home address, city, state, and zip: Preferred Phone: Type (mobile, home, work, etc.): Email: SCHOOL INFORMATION Full name of school: School address, city, state, and zip: School phone: School district: School district’s press contact: ESC region: Principal’s name: Principal’s e-mail: Total enrollment in your classes per school year: Total school enrollment: Does your campus receive Title I Funding? Would you like to receive Humanities Texas’s monthly e-newsletter? Yes No EDUCATIONAL HISTORY College/University Attended: Degree(s) earned: Dates: Certifications held: CURRENT EMPLOYMENT Total number of years teaching: Current subject(s) taught: Grade level(s): Total number of years at current school: Mrs. Dr. Received: HTx #: TEACHING EMPLOYMENT HISTORY School: Subject(s) taught/grade level: Dates of employment: PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Rather than provide a comprehensive list, please select up to five activities you deem most significant for this award application. Please list most recent activities first. Activity/organization: Description: Dates of involvement: HONORS AND AWARDS Rather than provide a comprehensive list, please select up to five honors or awards you deem most significant for this award application. Please list most recent awards first. Honor/Award: Year received: I hereby give permission for any or all of the information from this form and packet to be shared with persons interested in promoting the Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Awards. I understand that this information could be used in press releases, publicity in all media, and printed materials. Signature of nominee: ______________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________________________________________