This Award is given to a Bradley County or Cleveland teacher who is nominated by peers, students, friends or family.
This honor, valued both for its prestige and the $3,000 cash award, recognizes teaching excellence in the classroom.
Dr. and Mrs. Rodney Fitzgerald endow the award annually in honor of his mother, Lillie Frank Fitzgerald, who taught English and speech at Bradley County High School for 37 years. She was a dedicated and passionate teacher instilling a love of learning in her students.
She is remembered for prizing academic performance, recognizing students, and establishing clubs and programs which further prepared them for college careers and the teaching profession. She was inducted into the Tennessee Teachers Hall of Fame in 1995, having been nominated by several of her former students.
Nominations will be accepted through March 30. The winner will be announced at each school system’s opening session in August.
Requirements for nomination include:
n Employed as a full-time, certified, K-12 teacher in Cleveland City Schools or Bradley County Schools and having a minimum of five years’ experience
n Demonstrates a passion for teaching and inspires students with a love of learning
n Communicates effectively across all racial, cultural and economic backgrounds
n Utilizes creative, current and relevant teaching strategies
n Admired and respected by students, parents and colleagues
n Involved personally in the community
n Embodies the spirit of teaching demonstrate by Lillie Frank Fitzgerald — professional, articulate and passionate about education
Each nomination packet should contain the following:
n Letter from nominator outlining the reason(s) the teacher is nominated for the award
n Letters of recommendation from one peer, one supervisor, one student, and one parent. Other letters may be included as desired.
n History of the nominee including :
Full resume, dates of service with the local school systems, degrees earned, achievements and recognitions in the field of education, civic and community involvement, family information, a statement of teaching philosophy from the nominee, and other relevant information.
All submissions are reviewed by a panel of evaluators unrelated to either school system.
Additional information about this award can be found on the Foundation’s website: www.bcpef.org.
Nomination packets should be mailed to Bradley/Cleveland Public Education Foundation; PO Box 4354; Cleveland, TN 37320 or delivered to their office at the STaR Center, 5005 North Lee Highway.
