Nomination Directions (English)

Nomination Directions (Spanish)

REQUIRED FORMS As part of the Distinguished Teachers Awards (DTA) Nomination Packet, each Distinguished Teacher Candidate, the Nominator and Seconders must complete the relevant forms below and as described in the Nomination Instruction Packet above - click on links below to download the Word document. Please complete the form in the Word format and submit with the completed Nomination Packet.

(Nominators are responsible for collecting and submitting all forms for DTA Nomination by March 5, 2026, 5:00 p.m.)

NOTE: Nominations can be submitted electronically OR in person.  To submit electronically, the Nominator must collect and submit all pages electronically and in a single email to DTACNominations@gmail.com. Please CC Seconder and Administrator ONLY on the submission (DO NOT include the Teacher Candidate).  Nominators will receive an email confirming receipt of your submission.  To submit in person, the nomination packet must be submitted to the Communications Office at the Havemeyer Building, 290 Greenwich Avenue. In order to ensure that all nominations are received and all components are valid, all Nomination Packets must be reviewed in person by a member of the GPS Communications Staff. Packets are encouraged to be submitted prior to the deadline by appointment by calling the Communications Office at 203-625-7426. We will no longer accept quotes or supporting statements from anyone other than the nominator, candidate, seconder, or administrator, additional letters of recommendation, links to additional information.  Please avoid using educational jargon and acronyms.  PLEASE NOTE: NOMINATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER 5:00PM ON MARCH 5, 2026.

Form I - Information Form (Completed by Nominator) -- English | Spanish

Form II - Acknowledgement Form (Completed by Candidate) -- English | Spanish

Form III - Resume Form (Completed by Candidate) -- English | Spanish

Form IV - Response to Criteria Form for Teacher Candidate (Completed by Candidate) -- English | Spanish

Form V - Writing Prompt Form (Completed by Candidate) -- English | Spanish

Form VI - Response to Criteria Form for Nominator/Seconder (Completed by Nominator/Seconder) -- English | Spanish

Form VII - Response to Criteria Form for Nominator/Seconder (Completed by Nominator/Seconder) -- English | Spanish

Form VIII - Response to Criteria Form for Nominator/Seconder (Completed by Nominator/Seconder) -- English | Spanish

For complete eligibility and criteria information, review the Nomination Packet Instructions available annually in December.

To be eligible for the award, a nominee must:

• be a full-time (equal to or greater than 0.5 FTE) GEA member* who teaches in the Greenwich Public Schools,
• have completed at least five (5) years of teaching by March 6, 2025,
• have completed at least three (3) years of teaching in the Greenwich Public Schools by March 6, 2025,
• be an employee in good standing – Please note that the Greenwich Public Schools’ Human Resources Department will review each nomination to confirm the above mentioned eligibility requirements and review each candidate’s personnel file to determine an employee is in good standing. For further information on the criteria, please contact the GPS Human Resources Department prior to submitting the completed nomination packet.
• Previous award recipients are not eligible for re-nomination.

*GEA members include teachers, social workers, guidance counselors, instructional & STEM coaches and school psychologists

Nominations MUST provide the diverse perspectives of an administrator, colleague, and a parent or student. Nominations may be made by anyone representing one of the following categories; the seconders must represent the remaining two categories:

• one professional colleague, currently employed by the Greenwich Public Schools
• one parent/student/other current community member
• one administrator, currently employed by the Greenwich Public Schools

(Members of the Distinguished Teachers Award Committee may not nominate or second a nomination.)

Only one nomination packet per candidate will be accepted. We will accept the first nomination submitted; any subsequent nominations for the same candidate will not be accepted.

Criteria of a Distinguished Teacher:

The main emphasis in identifying a distinguished teacher is the quality of the teacher’s work with students. Candidates nominated for the Distinguished Teachers Award should be those who exhibit the qualities which are listed below. It is essential that nominators and seconders cite specific examples of the following qualities:

• Inspires enthusiasm, expects students to take responsibility for their own learning, and elicits a high level of achievement from students in relation to their individual abilities
• Demonstrates and continues to pursue a high mastery of subject matter and best practices for instruction
• Has the respect of students, parents and colleagues
• Communicates well with parents and students
• Collaborates and makes contributions to improve overall student achievement within the classroom
• Makes contributions to improve the school and/or the District beyond the classroom

For questions about nominations or procedures, please contact the Communications Office communications@greenwich.k12.ct.us.