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Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence
The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence honour outstanding and innovative elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines. Awards are selected by external selection committees comprised of representatives of education stakeholders from across Canada. These experts select recipients based on their innovative use of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the classroom, the excellence and innovation of their teaching practices, and their ability to achieve outstanding results with students. The recipients have used these qualities to inspire students to learn and continue learning, and to equip them with the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to succeed, and meet the challenges of a 21st-century society and digital economy.
Nominees are recognized for their excellence in the following five areas:
- digital literacy and ICTs in the classroom;
- innovative and exemplary teaching practices;
- student skills development;
- student achievement and participation; and
- teacher commitment and leadership.
Teachers or teams of teachers are eligible for two awards: the Certificate of Excellence (a national award) and the Certificate of Achievement (a regional award). All recipients receive a certificate and pin, along with a letter from the Prime Minister. Certificate of Excellence cash awards are worth $5,000 and are shared equally between the winning teachers or teams of teachers and their schools. Certificate of Achievement awards are worth $1,000 and are given directly to recipients. Funds may be used for professional development or equipment, resource materials, website 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 or teaching team’s achievement. Up to 15 Certificates of Excellence and up to 50 Certificates of Achievement are provided per competition. At least one Certificate of Excellence and one Certificate of Achievement are designated for the top-ranked Aboriginal teacher at each level.
A list of all Teaching Excellence award-winners for 2012 can be found at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/pmate-ppmee.nsf/eng/wz01957.html.
For more information about the program, please visit the Prime Minister’s Awards website at www.pma-ppm.gc.ca.
