INFORMATIONAL

  Virginia will participate in the 1998 National Teacher of
  the Year Award Program sponsored by the Council of Chief
  State School Officers (CCSSO) and Scholastic Inc.  The focus
  of the state and national program is to select and honor
  teachers who represent the best in teaching across the
  Commonwealth and nation.    

  Regional teachers will be selected and honored as Virginia's
  teachers of the year.  The teachers will represent the eight
  superintendents' study groups, with one of the eight being
  selected as Virginia's nominee in the national awards
  program.  It is anticipated that a monetary award made
  possible through monies donated by businesses in the state
  will be presented to each of the regional teachers of the
  year.  

  One individual, possessing a current Virginia teaching
  license, may be nominated from each school division. 
  Provisional licenses are not acceptable.  The candidate
  should be a dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher in
  pre-kindergarten through grade twelve, who is planning to
  continue in an active teaching status.  No teaching areas
  are excluded from participating.  The attached application
  packet outlines the selection criteria.  The names of
  nominees, with all materials prescribed in the packet, must
  be submitted to the Department on or before June 13, 1997.  

  Participation in the state Teacher of the Year program is an
  activity students, teachers, school boards, and parents in
  every community can share.  We hope that your school
  division will participate in this program.  If you have
  questions about the program, please contact Diane L. Jay at
  (804) 225-2905 or Patty S. Pitts at (804) 225-2098.  

  RTL/dlj
  Enclosure:   A hard copy of this memo and its Enclosure
               will be sent to the superintendent's office.

  cc:     Accredited Nonpublic Schools