Outstanding Young Educator Award Program Information

About the OYEA Program

Begun in 2002, ASCD's Outstanding Young Educator Award (OYEA) Program recognizes creative and committed teachers and administrators under the age of 40 who are making a difference in the lives of children. These educators are developing and using best practices to ensure all children are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

In addition, ASCD will highlight these young educators as models for all young education professionals or prospective educators. ASCD envisions

• Sharing the expertise and exemplary practices of the outstanding young educators to help build the skills of ASCD members and the larger education community.
• Leveraging the passion and enthusiasm of the outstanding young educators to attract people to the field and mobilize other young educators to continuously improve their practice and become education leaders.
• Supporting opportunities for the outstanding young educators to network, build leadership skills, and participate in professional development.

Eligibility for Candidates

• A candidate may not be older than 40 years old at the time of receiving the award.
• A candidate must be a full-time preK–20 educator.
• A candidate must be nominated by an eligible nominator; a candidate may not self-nominate.

It is at the discretion of the nominator to choose the category for the candidate. A candidate may be nominated for either the Teacher or the Administrator category.

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Eligibility for Nominators

• A nominator must be a full-time preK–20 educator.
• Nominators may choose whether to inform candidates that they have been nominated for the OYEA program.
• A nominator may work with the candidate to complete the application.
• Nominators may access forms and submit nominations only through the ASCD Web site.
• Incomplete or nominations submitted after August 1, 2009, will not be considered for the 2010 award.

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General Selection Criteria

The following general selection criteria for both teacher and administrator categories reflect the themes ASCD values for this program. ASCD seeks candidates who exemplify a passion for excellence in these areas. Use specific data and examples in the application to show how the candidate meets the criteria.

A commitment to educating the whole child by

• Ensuring that students learn about and practice healthy lifestyles.
• Providing an intellectually challenging environment that is physically and emotionally safe.
• Actively and consistently engaging students in their own learning and helping them feel connected to the school and broader community.
• Creating an environment where students have access to personalized learning.
• Working with staff, parents, and community stakeholders to help students develop the skills and attitudes that will ultimately prepare them for college, further study, and employment in the global market.

Demonstrated leadership by

• Building rapport, community, and collegiality among colleagues.
• Collaborating with major stakeholders such as parents, community members, and representatives of the business and public sectors.
• Supporting the values of professionalism and collegiality among members of the educational community.
• Modeling professional growth and self-evaluation to reinforce the principles of continuous learning and improvement.
• Promoting and pursuing opportunities to exercise leadership in such areas as instruction, assessment, classroom management, professional development, and organizational development.

A demonstrated positive impact on student learning by

• Determining student needs and interests and setting appropriate goals to accommodate them.
• Using assessment to adapt instruction to accommodate learner needs.
• Engaging students in their own learning and assessment.
• Analyzing data to make valid instructional decisions.
• Implementing programs and improvement efforts for student achievement.
• Supporting the school's performance targets related to student achievement.

Contributions to the education profession by

• Contributing to and promoting a culture of continuous learning.
• Seeking opportunities to engage in professional growth activities and sharing learning with colleagues.

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OYEA Selection Process

Candidates for the Outstanding Young Educator Award progress through a five-stage process to be selected as an OYEA winner.

1. Nominators submit applications online nominating candidates. The only material considered is the application.
2. The ASCD selection committee asks exemplary candidates to submit a personal statement of 500 words or less describing leadership and impact on students, school, or district.
3. Based on the personal statements and the application rating, honorees are selected and invited to participate in the OYEA program.
4. Each honoree participates in a video interview with the ASCD selection committee.
5. A distinguished panel of judges reviews the applications, personal statements, and video interviews of a select group of honorees and chooses a winner from either the Teacher or the Administrator category, or both.

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