Annual Awards
of the
I. Individual Awards
·
Each
year the past President of the TRA will be awarded a plaque in recognition of
his/her service to this professional organization.
·
The
TRA Individual Awards are the President’s Award, Distinguished Professor’s
Award, Reading Teacher of the Year Award, the Walter Helm’s Service Award, and
the Literacy Award
·
Nominations
for other awards should be presented in writing to the Awards Committees before
the summer board meeting each year.
Written nominations should include a description of the individual’s
contributions to the profession.
Nominations should be based on outstanding contributions in one or more
of the following areas:
International Reading Association
State Council
Local Council
Professional Field
·
The
TRA Awards Committee will review nominations and this group will determine
selections. As a general rule, no more
than five individual awards will be presented each calendar year.
II.
Group Awards
Nominations
for group awards (i.e. school boards, clubs, civic groups, newspapers, other
professional organizations, etc.) should be presented in writing. Nominations should be a clear description of
the group’s contributions to one or more of the following:
International Reading Association
State Council
Local Council
Professional Field
Community At Large
No
specific form is suggested. The TRA
Awards Committee will review nominations and this group will determine
selections. Due to the unique nature of
the category, such awards will be highly restrictive.
III.
A Council Award
Local
councils may be recognized for outstanding achievements and receive a merit
award by completion of 80 percent of the criteria identified. (See the questionnaire approved for this
purpose). The criteria are related to
the following:
Procedures (50%)
Items related to the professional
growth of the membership (25%)
Items related to the contributions
to reading programs in the schools of
Applications should be
received in writing to the TRA Awards Committee and should be filed with the
committee chair by July 1 of each year.
The committee will make evaluations during the summer board
meeting. The committee will notify the
local councils receiving the award and certificates will be presented to a
designated representative of the council at the next annual reading conference. A certificate will also be given to the
immediate past president, under whose leadership the council attained the
highest level of achievement.
APPLICATION TO COUNCIL
AWARD OF MERIT
SUBMIT
TO TRA AWARDS COMMITTEE
(Information should be based
on activities from the preceding year.)
A.
PROCEDURES
(Evaluation – 50%)
1.
Did council complete
membership drive by October 31?
2.
Were dues sent to the
membership co-chairman by October 31?
3.
Was the council
organization completed (i.e., officers, committees) and in operation by
September 15?
4.
Did the local council
have a board meeting by September 15?
5.
Were committee
chairpersons and officers appointed and notified prior to the first board
meeting?
6.
Is there evidence on
file with the local council president that each committee has met and is
functioning?
7.
Did officers and
committee chairpersons file reports by designated deadlines?
8.
Did the council have
appropriate representation (the president or a designated representative) at
all state board meetings?
9.
Have at least two
articles from local council members been submitted to the Tennessee Reading Teacher?
10.
Was a report sent to
the TRA newsletter for each publication?
11.
Have there been at
least three council meetings during the school year?
12.
Did the council have
an appropriate number affiliated with the national organization, IRA? (12-99
members – 50%); 100-499 members – 35%; 500-999 – 30%; over 1,000 members – 20%)
13.
Is membership in the
local council encouraged by the professional growth activities of the council?
14.
Did the council
demonstrate efforts to promote the field of reading through community
involvement?
B.
PROGRAM
(Evaluation – 25% for each of the following)
1.
What major
contributions have been made by the council during the school year that
promoted professional growth of the members?
2.
How has the council
contributed specifically to the development of a more effective reading program
in the schools of