How to Do Write Ups for Teacher of the Year Awards

One method of recognizing a teacher who has gone above job expectations is nominating the instructor for a Teacher of the Year award. Many school districts or universities have templates or formats for writing up a teacher for the local award. If your particular school offers no guidelines for the nomination letter, you’ll need to write a persuasive letter detailing what the teacher has accomplished and how those accomplishments have impacted student lives. The key to writing a successful letter of recommendation for teacher of the year is concisely stating who, what, how and why the teacher deserves the recognition.

Do an internet search for a sample letter of recommendation for excellence award. Ideally, you can find one specifically for nominating an outstanding educator. If not, modify the letter to describe a teacher rather than a volunteer, for instance. For instance you could start your letter by saying, "I am writing this recommendation for excellence award on behalf of my teacher, Mr. William Smith, who devotes countless hours of his own time helping students succeed."

You will notice in any teacher nomination letter example you find online that the letter is well written. Pay close attention to your own writing skills. Grammar, sentence structure, spelling and vocabulary will possibly sway the letter reader either positively or negatively. Absolutely make sure your letter is error-free.

Stick to a standard letter format with a greeting, introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion to keep the mission of the paper on target. Your introduction should include the name the teacher you are nominating in your letter of recommendation for teacher of the year. Mention the schools, subject matter or position, and grade level the teacher is teaching. Specify the award for which the teacher is being nominated. Also tell the reader how you are related to the teacher. For example, Teacher X was your homeroom teacher in ninth grade.

Focus the first paragraph of the letter on the teacher's current duties. Also mention the teacher's contributions to the field of education in years past. Focus the second body paragraph of the letter on the teacher’s deeds and services to students or people in general. Give specific examples of events or instances on what the teacher has done to exceed expectations. Give names of students helped, or personal examples of what this teacher has done to help you. Teacher of the Year awards are given to teachers who go over and beyond the normal classroom duties. Give detailed examples, in the third paragraph of the nomination letter, of how this teacher’s actions have impacted the life or lives of students.

Summarize your letter of recommendation for teacher of the year by stress how this teacher has changed lives. Long-term impact is especially persuasive. For example, the class thug turned his life around, went to college and is now a teacher because the instructor being nominated made sure that the student had breakfast in the morning, a warm coat and tutoring after school. Thank the committee or letter reader for their time. Close the letter with “Sincerely” and your name. Provide additional contact information in your letter should the committee want to ask additional questions.