Outstanding Biology Teacher Award
Sponsored by Prentice Hall
OBTA Director Candidate Record Form Letters of Support Rubrics Former Award Winners Supplemental Record Form Each year, the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), through its Outstanding Biology Teacher Awards (OBTA), attempts to identify an excellent biology instructor in each of the 50 U.S. states; Canada; Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; and overseas territories. Nominations of worthy candidates by NABT members and friends help us to recognize those individuals whose outstanding work in the classroom qualifies them for this award.
Prentice Hall, the OBTA program sponsor, gives each awardee a pair of precision binoculars, and Leica Micro- systems awards microscopes to the recipients. Award winners and their schools also receive certificates, as well as public and professional recognition. Each year, NABT honors Outstanding Biology Teacher Award recipients at a special ceremony in conjunction with its national convention.
Who Is Eligible? Current biology/life science instructors (grades 7-12) with at least three years public, private, or parochial school teaching experience. A major portion of the nomineeís career must have been devoted to the teaching of biology/life science. NABT membership is not a requirement. Unsuccessful candidates may be renominated; OBTA winners are ineligible for 10 years after selection.
What Is the Process? Candidates will complete a form summarizing their professional experience, academic background, and educational philosophy and provide four recommendations from colleagues familiar with their teaching effectiveness. Classroom observations and/or videotapes are important steps in the evaluation process. Videotape and/or site visit will be required of finalists only. Finalists will be notified.
Who Can Make Nominations? Colleagues, administrators, students, the teacher/candidates themselves, or anyone competent to judge the candidateís teaching effectiveness.
What Are the Criteria? Teaching ability and experience, cooperativeness in the school and community, inventiveness, initiative and student-teacher relationships.
How Do I Participate? You may have someone nominate you or nominate yourself. There are 3 ways to fill out the nomination form.
1. Fill out then print the nomination form and mail it to: Robert Dennison, 10406 Jockey Club Drive, Houston, TX 77065,
school phone: 713-896-3407, fax: 713-896-3438,
home phone: 281-955-6586, email: rdennison@houston.rr.com
2. Submit an online nomination.
3. Email the nomination as an attachment to: Robert Dennison at rdennison@houston.rr.com
Nomination deadline is February 1st.
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Criteria for Selection
1. Candidates must be presently teaching biology/life science and must have devoted a significant portion of his/her career to the teaching of biology/life science.
2. Candidates from public, private, and parochial schools are eligible.
3. A minimum of three years of teaching experience is mandatory before applying for the OBTA award.
4. Candidates need not be members of NABT.
5. Unsuccessful candidates may be renominated from year to year.
6. Candidates may receive the award more than once, after 10 years.
7. Either a site visit or videotape of the candidate's teaching is required for OBTA selection. Videotape and/or site visit will be required of finalists only. Finalists will be notified.
