McMillen Minute
Week of November 18
Pic of the Week
District News
Teacher of The Year Nominations
Plano ISD uses the Texas State Teacher of the Year guidelines for its Teacher of the Year recognition program. Plano ISD classroom teachers who are recognized at the campus level and the district level must meet these guidelines so that the district can enter them as eligible contenders in the Region 10, Texas State Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year competitions.
2019 Teacher of the Year Eligibility Guidelines
Each school’s Teacher of the Year should meet all of these qualifications.
· Teachers must be assigned full-time classroom teaching duties.
· Teachers must hold a valid Texas Teaching Certificate and be currently teaching. Certificates can be looked up here: https://secure.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECONLINE/virtcert.asp
· Speech pathologists, itinerant special education teachers, counselors and librarians may be included in the nomination process if they meet the Texas Education Code’s (TEC) classroom teacher definition. This definition, outlined in TEC 5.001, is: “An educator who is employed by a school district and who, not less than an average of four hours each day, teaches in an academic instructional setting or a career and technology instructional setting.” Diagnosticians, teachers’ aides and administrators are not eligible.
· Please note that the following guideline has been updated from previous years. Teachers must have completed one year of teaching experience on the nominating campus and two years in the district. That would mean a campus start date no later December 11, 2018 and a district start date no later than December 11, 2017.
- In most cases, the elementary teacher candidate teaches early childhood/pre-K through fifth grade. In general, elementary teachers will instruct the same class throughout the day in what is regarded as a traditional grade school setting.
- The secondary teacher candidate teaches grades 6-12 and conducts classes in his/her subject areas in a class-period or block-time schedule to different groups of students during the school day.
· Candidates should be skillful, dedicated teachers who plan to actively continue classroom teaching.
· Candidates should take an active role in their communities as well as their schools, demonstrate professional poise and be articulate.
· The Teacher of the Year candidate is an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled teacher in a state-approved or accredited school (pre-k through grade twelve) who is planning to continue an active teaching status. The criteria, prepared by the national Council of Chief State School Officers, are used for both the state and national programs and are as follows:
- Inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn
- Have the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues
- Play an active and useful role in the community, as well as in the school
- Be poised, articulate and possess the energy to withstand a taxing schedule
School Selection
Each school is eligible to submit the name of one classroom teacher nominee who meets the criteria to be recognized and considered as a candidate for one of Plano ISD’s Teachers of the Year.
Campus News
Mandatory Campus Professional Development: December 10
Leadership Team Meeting
Teacher of the Year Selection
Advisory/Tutorials