Purpose
The specific purpose of this award is to provide early career teachers of color a national forum for professional collaboration and development by attending the NCTE convention (year one) and by presenting an NCTE convention session (year two). The general purpose is to support teachers of color as they build accomplished teaching careers as active NCTE members.
Support level
• Programmatic—two years of support from a mentor who can help the scholarship recipient to plan his or her convention experience and to use NCTE resources to enhance professional growth; the opportunity to present or co-present at the NCTE convention (year two); an opportunity to collaborate with NCTE leaders; a plaque to recognize the recipient’s participation.
• Financial--round-trip airfare, complimentary registration at the NCTE convention, two nights lodging expense, and a $50 per diem for three days at two consecutive NCTE conventions.
Eligibility
Practicing pre-K to university level literacy educators of color who are in the first five years of a paid teaching career and who aspire to build a career in literacy education.
Application
To apply, please provide the information requested below and submit it electronically to NCTE (leadershift@ncte.org) no later than May 1, 2009. Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than June 1, 2009.
Note: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the site for the 2009 NCTE Convention and Orlando, Florida is the site for 2010.
Application Format
• A cover page that includes your name, work, and home telephone numbers and
addresses, and an email address.
• A brief profile of your current school and students, and a brief teaching history
(when and where you have taught)
• A short statement (500 – 700 words) describing your ambitions as a literacy
educator, how the NCTE convention experience could help you attain these
ambitions, and your need for the scholarship.
• A signature from the school principal (Pre-K to 12) or a supervisor (university
level) confirming release from your teaching duties for up to two days in two
consecutive years to attend the NCTE convention.
• A letter from someone familiar with your professional work attesting to your
accomplishments and potential as a literacy educator.
Timeline: Complete applications with supporting materials must be emailed to the NCTE office (leadershift@ncte.org) no later than May 1. Two candidates will be selected and all applicants will be notified no later than June 1, 2009.