Frequently Asked Questions About Recent Changes in the Teacher Excellence Awards

Will the Warner School continue the Excellence in Teaching Awards?
The Warner School will continue to find ways to honor teachers. But the award in its current form—a dinner and ceremony—will no longer be held.

Why won’t the dinner be held any longer?
It is our goal to develop a new method of honoring teachers from all areas of teaching, expanding the recognition to teachers of all grade levels (currently it is just high school). We hope to develop a new approach that can help us focus on the individual teachers themselves so we can learn more about the important impact each teacher has had on their students. This new approach would us redirect the significant resources spent each year on the dinner toward making longer-term and more meaningful differences in the public perception of the teaching profession, while giving area teachers the recognition they deserve and the vehicle to share their exceptional practices and experiences with the educational community and the public at large.

What will the new method or format be?
First, Warner will survey schools to solicit ideas. Then, we will discuss options with Marion and Leonard Simon, who have sponsored this ceremony in recent years. Together, Warner and the Simons will consider the options and work with focus groups to determine the best decision.

How will teachers be chosen in the future?
It remains important to the Warner School to continue to have principal, faculty, and student involvement. We plan to include them in the new process, as well is in the focus groups interviewed to develop a new process.

How long have the awards been given?
The awards have been given since 1986. Awards in the past several years have been made possible through a gift from Marion and Leonard Simon.

How many teachers have been honored over the years?
Approximately 60 teachers were honored each year. It was possible for the same person to be honored more than one year.