NAIS Teachers of the Future

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ABOUT THE 2010-2011 TEACHERS OF THE FUTURE (ToF) PROGRAM  

The Teachers of the Future (ToF) program was established in 2007.  Over the past two years, a group of 48 innovative teachers shared their expertise in teaching through technology as well as their creative ways of teaching.  Once again this year, NAIS will select a cadre of 20 innovative teacher leaders currently working at NAIS member schools to contribute to the online communities for independent school teachers.  This program and the development of online education communities are part of NAIS’s goals to provide valuable networking opportunities and to enhance the excellent education provided at independent schools.

Each of the 20 teachers will be expected to:

• lead an NAIS online educational discussion forum throughout the 2010-2011 school year, and  
• create and post a demonstration teaching unit video (three to 10 minutes in length) to be posted on NAIS's online independent school community
• post the demonstration teaching unit video on, and contribute to the NAIS on iTunes U website.  (details available soon)

This program provides teachers a way to distinguish themselves as leaders. They can advance independent school education by spurring discussion and idea-sharing about innovation in teaching and learning.

NOMINATIONS

To nominate a teacher (yourself of another individual), complete the nomination form by April 16, 2010.  The nominee must be currently working at an NAIS member school.

Nominees should exemplify excellence in independent school teaching; they should be individuals who inspire academic excellence in students in the classroom and who serve as opinion leaders among their colleagues and peers. 

To align with NAIS’s vision for sustainable schools, we are looking in particular for nominees who have demonstrated excellence in environmentalism, globalism, equity and justice, and/or use of technology. These teachers of the future may show excellence in teaching students to be good stewards of the environment; and/or they may embrace a wide view of education that prepares students to succeed in a globally interconnected future; and/or they may have successfully created inclusive environments inside and outside of the classroom; and/or they may have modeled best practices in the use of technology.

Teachers can nominate themselves and/or any other teachers from their schools or other schools.  More than one teacher can be nominated from each school but this year, we will only select one teacher from a total of 20 schools!

TIMELINE

The following timeline provides a brief outline of expectations for the selected 2010-2011 Teachers of the Future:

• February 24, 2010: Teachers of the Future nominations process opened. 
• April 16, 2010: Teachers of the Future nominations deadline.
• May and June 2010: Selected teachers have been notified and sent letters of agreement.
• September 2010: Teachers will be asked to begin seeding and moderating online discussion forums in September 2010. Online discussion moderating duties will continue throughout the 2010-2011 school year.
• September/October 2010: Each teacher will upload his or her demonstration teaching unit video (three to 10 minutes in length).
• June 25, 2011: Teachers of the Future teachers official moderating duties end. However, NAIS warmly welcomes the teachers to continue participating in the forums and online community.

To download the new NAIS booklet, Stories of Excellence: Case Studies of Exemplary Teaching and Learning with Technology, click here.

Join the Community!  Click here to sign-up for the Teachers of the Future online community. The community includes blogs and wikis that cover everything from best practices for enhancing science lessons with technology, to a Tuareg Tea Ceremony that introduces students to a Craftmanship course. Math, science, globalism, Web 2.0, journalism, art, and music are among the many topics of discussion.

In 2008, NAIS selected 24 outstanding Teachers of the Future to build, lead, and moderate its new online community for independent school teachers. The 24 Teachers of the Future exemplify excellence in teaching through their leadership, innovation, and commitment to environmentalism, equity and justice, globalism, technology, and other key areas of sustainability. Now you can join the teachers' online discussion forums. To view the teachers' teaching unit and educational videos, go to the 2008 Teachers of the Future Videos Page.

In 2009-2010, NAIS selected 24 teachers from over 100 nominations!

NAIS is proud to recognize the 2009-2010 and the 2008-2009 Teachers of the Future and their many accomplishments:

2009-2010: