The Dr. William Strong Utah English Teacher of the Year Award

Bill Strong, founder of the Utah Writing Project, was awarded the Lifetime Service Award by UCTE/LA in June 2004. A reception was held in his honor for his continual dedication to English educators throughout Utah. The Utah Teacher of the Year Award has been renamed in his honor.

View a List of Previous Winners

Nominations for the 2009 English Teacher of the Year Award will be accepted by February and honored at a Teacher of the Year Banquet in the spring.  The award recipient and nominees will also be announced at the UCTE Fall Conference in October.

Nominate an exceptional English teacher from your school NOW!

Reserve/Purchase tickets for the Teacher of the Year Award Banquet

Contributions/Donations are Welcome:

Prior to 2001, the award was funded by the Utah Writing Project.

The 2001 English Teacher of the Year Award was funded by a one-time financial gift from The Deseret News. Since then, consistent funding has been unavailable.

Funding is currently needed for all future English Teacher of the Year Awards. To become a financial partner with UCTE/LA in celebrating teacher excellence, contact Sharon Steele (Teacher of the Year Award Chair).

View a List of Teacher of the Year Sponsors

If you would like to add your name to a list of local contributors for the Utah English Teacher of the Year Award, DONATE NOW!

"Teacher of the Year" Nomination Requirements

  • The nominee must be a current member of UCTE/LA (to check membership status, contact Deborah Dean at deborah_dean@byu.edu or to join online,
    go to Join UCTE).
  • The nomination form must be filled out in entirety and submitted by February 15th.
  • The nominees will be narrowed to five finalists, who will be contacted by February 20th and asked to submit a portfolio of additional information.
    • This portfolio needs to be submitted by March 10th, and should include letters of recommendation from colleagues, administrators, students and/or parents, as well as an account, which demonstrates the candidate meets the criteria for the Utah English Teacher of the Year Award.
    • Winners will be notified by April 1st, and will be recognized at a banquet in May and announced at the UCTE/LA Fall Conference in October.

"Teacher of the Year" Award Criteria

Candidates will be judged based upon the following criteria:

  • Teaching
  • Service
  • Professional Activities

Nominators and candidates are encouraged to consider addressing any or all of the activities listed below, in order to demonstrate the candidate's unique qualifications for the Utah English Teacher of the Year Award.

  • Teaching
    • Curriculum Development
    • Teaching Innovations
    • Relationships with Students, Parents, Colleagues, Administrators, etc.
    • Engagements with Students in Educational Activities (Outside of Classroom)
    • Teaching Honors, Awards, or Recognition
    • Other Demonstrations of Quality Teaching
  • Service (Outside of Classroom) 
    • Community Service
    • Service to the School
    • Service within School District
    • Service to Professional Organizations
    • Service Honors, Awards, or Recognition
    • Other Areas of Service
  • Professional Activities Research
    • Publication
    • Membership/Participation in Professional Organizations
    • Professional Development and/or Continued Education
    • Awards and/or Certifications
    • Other Contributions to the Profession

Click here for Nomination Form

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