Do you know a great teacher? Students, parents, teachers, principals and community members are encouraged to nominate a teacher or principal for their exceptional work with K-12 students in Alberta classrooms. Nominations for the 2010 Excellence in Teaching Awards must be submitted to Alberta Education by February 5.

English and French nomination packages, which include details of eligibility and selection criteria, are available at this page: http://www.education.alberta.ca/teachers/excellence.aspx

This year, 134 semi-finalists will be selected. Twenty of those semi-finalists will receive Provincial Excellence in Teaching Awards, and three will receive SMARTer Kids Foundation Innovative Use of Technology Awards. Award recipients will be formally honoured at a dinner and ceremony with the Minister of Education on May 29 in Calgary.

The Excellence in Teaching Awards have been celebrated since 1989. To date, 8,624 teachers have been nominated and 446 teachers have received awards. Last year, 365 teachers were nominated and 23 received awards.