INFORMATIONAL

 The Department of Education is  accepting  nominations for the 2000-01 Commonwealth 
Talent Pool. The annual development of the state talent pool of education leaders 
was initiated in 1999. You may nominate three outstanding elementary educators from 
your division--two classroom teachers and one administrator (principal or assistant 
principal). 

I encourage you to nominate outstanding educators who have not received recognition 
as well as those who have been recognized for their contributions (e.g., school, 
division, regional, or state teachers of the year, National Board Certified teachers,
Golden Apple Award winners, Presidential awards for excellence in mathematics and 
science, Christa McAuliffe Award winners, curriculum area teachers of the year, 
school, division, regional, or state principals of the year).  Please be certain 
that the two classroom teachers nominated are educators in their early to 
mid-careers with 5 to 18 years of service. Principals nominated should be individuals
who are in their first 10 years of employment as administrators with no more than 20 
years total. Nominations submitted last year for this program may be submitted again 
to the 2000-2001 talent pool.

The attached nomination form and a one-page letter explaining how the nominee meets 
the criteria for the talent pool (listed on page 2 of the application) must be 
submitted for each educator. Complete information must be submitted by May 26, 2000,
to Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent, Department of Teacher Education and 
Licensure, Virginia Department of Education, P. O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120.
Nominations received after May 26 will not be included in the 2000-2001 talent pool.
We look forward to your participation in this program.  If you have any questions, 
please contact Dr. Elliott at (804) 371-2522.

JLD/lm

Enclosure