2024-2025 TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM
The VFW launched the Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Award in 1999 to recognize certified teachers for promoting citizenship education. Three teachers, one from each level (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12) may be selected as department winners. Each department award winner and their school will receive a National Citation. Visit this link for more information and for an entry form: https://vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/teacher-of-the-year
Eligibility
Teachers who promote civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism are prime candidates for this award. For example, do you know a teacher who plans field trips to city hall or organizes community volunteer projects? Maybe you know an instructor who invites veterans into the classroom to discuss their military experiences. Perhaps you are familiar with a teacher who fosters the development of democratic values and beliefs through special projects. If you know of such a teacher, honor them today. All current certified/licensed teachers in grades K-12 are eligible. Previous national winners are ineligible. Nominations can be submitted by themselves, fellow teachers, supervisors, family members or other interested individuals.
Deadlines
Post judging should be completed and their winners entries sent to the District by Nov. 15. If your Department does not have a District judging, then submit to your Department Headquarters, and/or Dept. Chairperson by Jan. 1. Department judging should be completed and their winning entries submitted to VFW National Headquarters by Feb. 1 by completing a VFW Department Teacher Award Request Form. Department
Adjutant/Quartermasters will receive a link to get this form after their judging. The Post chairperson must be
sure to send the original entry form for the winners along with a one-page resume as a minimum, or up to
five pages, including the resume, as a maximum of documentation of their teaching experience, (such as,
resume, references, news articles, etc.,) and a good quality head and shoulders photograph, if available.
Judging Select competent and unbiased judges. A panel of at least three to five judges is recommended. The VFW chairperson should be present at the judging to provide assistance but should not be one of the judges. Prior to the judging, the chairperson should review all entry forms to ensure they adhere to the rules.
Judges should grant points based on four criteria with the potential of 100 points as follows:
1-25 points - Does the teacher teach and/or model good citizenship and community involvement?
1-25 points - An innovative approach to teaching citizenship.
1-25 points - Development of resources to teach citizenship education.
1-25 points - Passion for teaching citizenship education.
NOTE: Judging sheets are available on later pages.
Who can submit
Fellow teachers, supervisors, or any other interested individual may submit nominations. Self-submitted nominations are allowed.
The individual making the nomination must submit the nominated teacher’s name on the completed VFW Teacher Nomination Form. Included with the form is a 350 word or less description of why the nominee should be selected. Describe the teacher’s innovative teaching and resource development methods, as well as his/her dedication to teaching. Submit these to the local VFW Post no later than October 31, 2024.
Post
Post Commander/Chairman will complete the application by ensuring that the following items are included. This is a necessary list (without all six items, the application will be considered incomplete, and will not be judged).
NOTE to Post Commanders/Chairmen: The above items must be included exactly as stated or your entry may be returned or even disqualified at the District level. Only one nominee will be selected from each of the three categories. Selected applications must be forwarded to District to arrive no later than November 16, 2024.
District
District will then judge and select only one nominee in each of the three categories.
District Commander/Chairman will complete the District portion of the "National Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Advancement" Form.
Selected Post Teacher Entry Forms will be forwarded directly to the Department Director. Deadline for receipt of District entries to the Department Director is December 16, 2024. Applications must include all the above items. Only entries from the District Commander or District Chairman will be accepted at the Department level. District must include National Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Advancement Form. This is to assure that all participating Posts receive credit.
NOTE to District Chairman: It is your responsibility to ensure that Posts have included all six items described above and that they are as specified. If you do not receive the proper documents from Posts, send them back to the Post for correction. DO NOT pass them on to Department.
It is also your responsibility to ensure the District Teacher of the Year Award Report Form is filled out properly and submitted to Department. If the above requirements are not met it could result in the disqualification of your District's entry.
It is the responsibility of the Post, District and Department adjutants to input the Teacher of the Year entries into the All-American Dashboard. This is to include all monetary values spent on this event. Failure to do so can cause the Post, District and Department to show a Not Met in this category.
Deadlines
Post - Received no later than October 31, 2024
District - Received no later than November 16, 2024
State - Received no later than December 16, 2024
Awards
One winner in each category (elementary, junior high, high school) will be awarded the following at our 2024 Mid-Winter Conference.
Roger Stevens, Director
57 Chamberlain Ave.
Brunswick, ME 04011-2518
207-650-2825
District Reporting Packet
Score Sheet
Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Advancement Form