2012 Jared Polis Foundation Teacher and School Recognition Awards

2012 Jared Polis Foundation Teacher Recognition Awards:

The Jared Polis Foundation has been honoring Colorado public school teachers since 2002 through a program initially called Appreciating Educators (2002-2005) and then revised to the Teacher Recognition Awards (2006-2011). The foundation will continue with this important program and will add a new element to the awards beginning in 2012: whole school awards.

The Jared Polis Foundation will honor five Colorado public schools from across the state with school grants in the amount of $5,000 per school to support school programming, professional development, technology needs, and classroom resources focused on effective teaching and learning.

The Jared Polis Foundation will continue to honor individual Colorado public school teachers (K-12) in 2012 as well. The foundation will award eight outstanding teachers with $2,500 grants per teacher. The grant will include a $1,000 discretionary award for the teacher and a $1,500 teacher-directed school grant that can be used for school programming, professional development, technology needs, and classroom resources focused on effective teaching and learning. This year, Quish & Co is partnering with the foundation by sponsoring two additional teacher grants. These grants also include a $1,000 teacher award and a $1,500 teacher-directed school grant. However, the Quish & Co sponsored grants will be especially for outstanding teachers focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Math (STEM).

The Jared Polis Foundation is thrilled to invest more than $50,000 in this important program supporting Colorado schools and teachers; we know it will make a significant impact in our schools.

School Nominations: Principals and their administrative team may apply on behalf of the entire school. Please view the application guidelines and deadlines by clicking here.

Teacher Nominations: Colleagues/peers, principals, school staff, parents and students may nominate a teacher to receive a teacher recognition award. Please view the application guidelines and deadlines by clicking here.

The Jared Polis Foundation is investing more funding support in schools and teachers this year and has decided to not hold an awards ceremony this year as we have in the past. We will acknowledge all of the school and teacher honorees through our website, their local newspapers, their district and/or district foundations. In other words, we will make certain the school and teacher honorees are recognized in their local communities for the great work they do every day.

Congratulations to our 2011 JPF Teacher Recognition Award Honorees:

Mary Murphy, Mesa Middle School, Douglas County Schools
Casey Veatch, Bennett School District
Kelley Randall, Meridian Elementary, Adams 12
Bradley Smith, Skinner Middle School, Denver Public Schools
Sigrid Bowen, Rose Hill Elementary, Adams 14
Johnathan Fisher, Animas High School, Durango
Tammy Langeberg, Warder Elementary, Jeff Co
John Carlos Matos, Boulder High School, Boulder Valley School District
Shawndra Fordham, Rock Canyon High School, Douglas County Schools
Amiee Witulski, Thomas Jefferson High School, DPS
Mary Aquino, James Irwin Charter Middle School, CO Spgs District 11
Terri Reh, Flagstaff Academy Charter School, Longmont St. Vrain
Eva Dobles, Denver Language School, DPS
Alexandra Saba, Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences, DPS
Joseph Dziedzic, George Washington High School, DPS