Awards and recognition for exceptional teachers : K-12 and community college programs in the USA, Canada and other countries. [Book Review]

Abstract

The purposes of schools adopting a teacher award and recognition structure are multiple. The structure can serve as a type of portfolio assessment that helps teachers attain important teaching abilities. It can create a setting in which serious discourse about teaching can occur – teaching is made public in a way that the outcomes of practice can be developed into shared norms of practice across the profession. More teachers are encouraged and challenged to achieve excellence, and highly qualified and motivated people are attracted to the teaching profession. Andrews is a major advocate of award structures and his work brings a wealth of knowledge and research to bear on this topic. Andrews’ book (see http://www.matildapress.com) is organised around three major foci: (i) it gives educational practitioners a guide for the successful implementation of a recognition programme; (ii) it encourages more governing boards to understand the need for recognition and award programmes for their teachers; and (iii) it exhibits best practices of awards and recognition from across the USA, Canada and elsewhere.