INTRODUCTION
At the heart of every successful bilingual education program are caring and dedicated teachers who believe in the value of bilingualism to help language minority students excel academically. These are people who approach the teaching and learning process with a remarkable sense of responsibility and are guided in their actions by the deep seated 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 bilingual 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 2024 Bilingual Education Teacher of the Year competition will be publicly acknowledged and honored during the 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 2024 TABE Conference. The winner will automatically become the TABE nominee for the National Association for Bilingual Education Teacher of the Year competition. They will be responsible for completing any necessary documentation to apply for this national recognition.
NOMINATIONS
Only TABE AFFILIATES 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 or who have served on the TABE Board for the past two years 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, in any of the four program types recognized in the state of Texas (early-exit, late-exit, dual language one-way, dual language two-way).
__ 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