Lucille Speakman Master Teacher Award

Any full-time faculty who has:

• completed at least five (5) years of teaching before their nomination
• has not received the award in the last 10 years is eligible for this award. 

• Outstanding classroom teaching as noted in the classroom observation rubric
• A positive learning environment, including personal in-class relationships with students
• Strong outside-of-classroom relationships and mentoring with students
• Strong modeling, practice, and assessment of the University’s General Skills Research, projects and case studies 
• An understanding of educational principles and an articulated teaching philosophy
• Often updated assessments that require critical thinking
• Other criteria as added by the Faculty Award Committee

• Nominee must be academically and professionally in good standing and have not received any formal disciplinary action within 12 months of their nomination date. 
• Classroom observation using the classroom observation rubric by a Faculty Awards sub-committee (approximately 50 percent of award criteria). 
• The documentation provided by the candidate (approximately 50 percent of award criteria).

• Your name, the name of the award, and a release giving the committee the right to review your documentation and to gain information from peers, students, and supervisors. 
• Your syllabi with the conduct of their course
• Your general lesson plans, keyed to your syllabus, and general education objectives
• A narrative on how you teach students and have students practice general education skills
• Your philosophy/goals statement (1,000 words or less)
• Your assessment tools (grading policies) keyed to your classroom and general education objectives. You must indicate how often assessments are updated. 
• Innovation related to courses taught. 
• Letters of recommendation from at least two former students.
• Documentation of exemplary sessions. This documentation may include the following:
  • An outline of what the candidate teaches
  • Notes
  • Powerpoints and other presentation styles, software, web pages, media, video links, tutorial support
  • Handouts
  • Case studies
  • Materials used
  • Description of classroom activities
  • Formative evaluations
• Copies of peer evaluations
• A narrative or explanation of how you changed your teaching methods to accommodate student feedback or newly accepted pedagogy. (You should use examples documented in exemplary lessons.)
• Copies of student evaluations, student papers, projects, research, technology, and materials or assignments
• Formal and informal assessment tools and how you modify them.
• Research: presentations or publications, research collaborating with peers or students (i.e., Research Symposium).

• Nominees will be notified of their nomination and accept or decline
• Written documents will be evaluated for the criteria. Student evaluations, assessment tools, supervisor reviews, and other material generally found in a portfolio will be reviewed.
• Three members of the Faculty Award Committee will observe and rate the candidate’s teaching. 
• The full Faculty Award Committee will vote to select the most outstanding candidate.