Nominations sought for teacher awards

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
November 6, 2003

Do you know an exceptional Catholic school teacher? If so, read on.

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2004 Lawrence D. Soens Excellence in Education Teacher Award.

Kevin Vickery, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City, said, "This should be a teacher that truly exemplifies living and teaching the Gospel values on a day-to-day basis. We are looking for people that are able to use the Gospel values in all aspects of their teaching and pass it on to their students and the parents."

Each year five teachers from Catholic schools in the diocese are honored with this $1,000 monetary award. The formal presentation comes at the Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education held each fall.

"This award offers an opportunity to realize the absolute excellence that we have in all of our schools," noted Vickery. "We realize that we have many quality teachers, but this is one way to publicly acknowledge the characteristics of an exemplary Catholic school teacher."

Anyone who has experienced an excellent teacher may nominate a teacher - who meets the criteria - for the Excellence in Education Award. Those making the nominations may include a parent, pastor, student, fellow teacher, administrator or parishioner.

"We always get a nice response to our nomination process," said Vickery, who pointed out that some teachers have been nominated two or three consecutive years before being selected as a recipient of the award.

With this in mind, the superintendent said even if a teacher has been nominated in the past they are encouraged to be nominated once again.

"If there is a flaw to the program, the flaw is that we can only select five when each year we have many more teachers that meet the criteria," said Vickery. "This can be very difficult for the selection committee to narrow it down."

It is his belief that even when a teacher does not receive the award, they are honored and affirmed by the nomination itself - knowing that someone recognized the uniqueness that they bring to this teaching ministry.

Nomination forms may be secured from all parish or school offices.

The deadline for nominations is Dec. 19. These are to be sent to the Office of Education of the diocese.

The teachers are to be informed about the nomination as they play a role in the process. After being informed of the nomination, the teacher must submit an application form and essay pertaining to Catholic school philosophy to: Kevin B. Vickery, Secretary - Catholic School Foundation, 1821 Jackson St., PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102-3379.

The teacher applications must be submitted by Jan. 30, 2004.

Once the teacher applications are turned in, a committee made up of educators reviews them.

"All of the essays are read blindly, so there are no names or schools attached to it," noted Vickery. "The committee consists of people who are able to recognize the characteristics of excellent teachers in the context of Catholic schools."

The recipients of the 2004 Excellence in Education Awards will be announced prior to the Eighth Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education slated for Oct. 17.