COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 77

March 31, 2006

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Acting Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	American Stars of Teaching

As part of its third annual American Stars of Teaching project, the U.S. Department of Education is seeking nominations of outstanding teachers who deserve recognition for raising student achievement. The American Stars of Teaching project is part of the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, which includes teacher and principal roundtables, teacher workshops and conferences, regular e-mail updates, and a free-of-charge, online professional development tool.

Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as the 2006 American Stars of Teaching. One teacher, or team of teachers from a school, will be recognized in every state and the District of Columbia. Parents, students, colleagues, school administrators, or others can nominate a teacher whom they believe has the qualities to be an American Star of Teaching. Nominations are due April 15, 2006, and may be submitted by filling out the form located at https://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/About.asp.

U.S. Department of Education officials will visit the schools of American Star teachers in the fall of 2006 to congratulate them on their success. The application process is ongoing and selections will be made in August 2006.

For additional information, please contact Carolyn Snowbarger, U.S. Department of Education, at (202) 4010113, or carolyn.snowbarger@ed.gov; or contact Carol Sylvester, Title II, Part A, coordinator, at (804) 371-0908 or carol.sylvester@doe.virginia.gov.

PIW/CCS