Awards and Recognition for Exceptional Teachers: K‐12 and Community College Programs in the USA, Canada and Other Countries

Citation

McNeil, N. (2007), "Awards and Recognition for Exceptional Teachers: K‐12 and Community College Programs in the USA, Canada and Other Countries", Management Research News, Vol. 30 No. 9, pp. 705-705. https://doi.org/10.1108/01409170710779999

The role of exemplary teaching practices in generating superior learning outcomes for students at all levels of education is well documented. However, the difficulties in assessing teaching performance and rewarding excellence remain a persistent challenge for the teaching profession. Awards and Recognition for Exceptional Teachers provides important and constructive insights into the issues involved in granting commendations for teaching activities, through a comprehensive review of the various evaluation and recognition programs offered by various institutions in the USA and other countries. The author presents a thorough overview of recognition schemes offered in K‐12 and Community College programs, and argues for a more methodical approach to the acknowledgment of quality teaching practices.

The initial chapters of the book present a summary of the use of teaching recognition programs, predominantly in the USA. The merits of recognition programs and the desirable characteristics of such systems are discussed. The author also offers practical advice regarding the establishment of organisational values and objectives which support and encourage the acknowledgment of teaching excellence within institutions. The remainder of the book presents an extensive catalogue of teaching recognition programs for Community College and K‐12 teachers, at the National, State and institution level. Detailed information is provided for the programs listed, such as the nature of the award, decision‐making criteria and eligibility requirements. The final chapter of the book considers the constitution of similar recognition programs in countries such as Canada, Australia and the UK.

Awards and Recognition for Exceptional Teachers has several notable features. It is an important repository of information for members of the education sector, including teaching professionals, education administrators and policy‐makers. The author has conducted extensive research of existing recognition programs throughout the world. The availability of this information in one source informs readers of the different schemes in operation, and facilitates comparisons between different programs with relative ease. Moreover, the author presents this information in a manner that is logical, engaging and though‐provoking. Through the presentation of this information, Andrews clearly demonstrates the development of these programs and presents a compelling argument for the adoption of a more systematic approach to recognising teaching excellence, focusing on appropriate measures of teaching performance and the conferral of suitable rewards.