Teaching Awards

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The teaching awards were established by the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Minister of Education in 2021 to acknowledge the leadership role that educators play in the lives of students.

The Premier’s Award for Innovation in Teaching

These awards honour outstanding primary, elementary, or secondary teachers (including substitute teachers) in all disciplines who have demonstrated innovation in instruction and a commitment to preparing their students for future success.

The Minister’s Award for Compassion in Teaching

These awards recognize inspirational and compassionate teachers at the primary, elementary or secondary level who have gone above and beyond to support the social, emotional and mental health of their students, colleagues or school community as a whole.

Guidelines

Nomination deadline

Nominations for the 2023 Premier’s Award and the Minister’s Award are now being accepted.  Nomination must be submitted by April 19, 2024 — 11:59 p.m. Late entries will not be considered.

Who is eligible?

  • Permanent residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Certified teachers (including substitute teachers) at the primary, elementary or secondary level in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  •  Awards will be selected in each region (Eastern; Central, Western; Labrador and the Francophone School District.)

Who Can Nominate?

Nominators may be any person or group with direct knowledge of the nominee’s contribution, such as:

  • Student
  • Parent/caregiver
  • Colleague
  • School administrator or supervisor

The following nominations are not acceptable:

  • Self-nominations
  • Nominations from immediate family members

How do I nominate a teacher for the Premier’s Award for Innovation in Teaching or the Minister’s Award for Compassion in Teaching?

Nominators need to submit a nomination package that includes:

Selection Criteria – Premier’s Award for Innovation in Teaching

Award recipients are selected based on the innovation of their teaching in instruction and their commitment to preparing their students for future success. Nominees are judged on their innovative ways to deliver the curriculum in a way that engages students and results in greater educational outcomes for their students.

In selecting award recipients, the committee looks for clear evidence that nominees have excelled in the following areas:

  1.  Improve student success (e.g. testimonial/letter from students, parents, or teachers).
  2.  Demonstrate commitment and leadership (e.g. mentor students or teachers, share practices with other teachers or school communities, and develop innovative projects).
  3. Engage students in project-based learning (e.g. give students a voice and choice while engaging in real-world projects and/or provide opportunities for students to reflect on their learning and showcase their work).
  4.  Support teaching and learning through the integration of technology.

Selection Criteria – Minister’s Award for Compassion in Teaching

Award recipients are compassionate educators who make a significant difference in supporting the social, emotional and/or mental health of their school community by:

  • Fostering relationships and partnerships;
  • Supporting Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and/or mental health through teaching and learning;
  • Demonstrating leadership (e.g. mentoring, sharing practices, initiating projects); and,
  • Using inclusive and equitable practices in the physical and social environment.

What do recipients receive?

  • A plaque from the Premier or Minister of Education, depending on the award.
  • Promotion of their best teaching practices.
  • Provincial recognition for their contribution to excellence in education in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • The Premier and/or Minister will present the awards to the recipients at a special ceremony before the end of the current school year.

Submitting Nominations

Nominations can be sent by email or by mail:

Submitting by email

Email submissions must be sent to teachersawards@gov.nl.ca by the deadline date of April 19, 2024 at 11:59p.m.

The total file size cannot exceed 20MB. After submitting the nomination, you will receive a confirmation email.

Submitting by mail

If you chose to submit a nomination by mail or courier, make sure your envelope is postmarked by the deadline date of April 19, 2024 and sent to the following address:

Teachers Awards
Department of Education
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6

Courier
Teachers Awards
Department of Education
3rd Floor, West Block
Confederation Building, St. John’s, NL

History

In 2021, the Provincial Government invited nominations for two new awards to recognize teaching excellence: the Premier’s Award for Teaching Innovation and the Minister’s Award for Compassion in Teaching.

Premier Furey and Minister Howell with recipients of Premier's and Minister's Teaching Awards 2023.
Premier Furey and Minister Howell with recipients of Premier’s and Minister’s Teaching Awards 2023.