Outstanding Language Arts Educator Awards

Nominate a colleague: bit.ly/nominateoctelaela

The OCTELA Outstanding Language Arts Educator Award was established to recognize excellence in language arts teaching at the elementary, middle school, high school and university level. Awards are given in elementary, middle school, secondary, college, and special distinction categories (librarian, curriculum coordinator, ESC, writing center coordinator, etc.)

An OCTELA Outstanding Language Arts Educator demonstrates excellence inside and outside of the classroom through leadership in and advocacy for the language arts and focused efforts to improve student learning. An Outstanding Language Arts Educator strives for distinguished teaching and continued professional growth as specified by The Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession:

1. Teachers understand student learning and development, and respect the diversity of the students they teach.
2. Teachers know and understand the content area for which they have instructional responsibility.
3. Teachers understand and use varied assessments to inform instruction, evaluate and ensure student learning.
4. Teachers plan and deliver effective instruction that advances the learning of each individual student.
5. Teachers create learning environments that promote high levels of learning and achievement for all students.
6. Teachers collaborate and communicate with students, parents, other educators, administrators and the community to support student learning.
7. Teachers assume responsibility for professional growth, performance, and involvement as an individual and as a member of a learning community.

Awards are presented annually at the OCTELA Spring Conference.

Nominations for the 2025 Award

Nominees do not have to be members of OCTELA, but each nominator must be either a member of OCTELA or a building principal. Nominations for the OCTELA Outstanding ELA Educator Award are now done online.

Nominate a colleague: bit.ly/nominateoctelaela

Award Criteria

To be selected as an OCTELA Outstanding Language Arts Educator, nominees must clearly demonstrate excellence inside and outside the classroom. Outstanding Language Arts Educators will achieve exemplary scores on each of the following areas:

• Describe how you have demonstrated distinguished language arts teaching through a focus on content, instruction and assessment (e.g. Using formative/summative assessment to identify student strengths and monitor success; extending/enriching curriculum using Ohio’s Learning Standards; enriching content to enhance student learning).

• Describe how you have demonstrated distinguished language arts teaching through a focus on students and environment (e.g. Designing instruction that meets an appropriate level of development; creating a classroom where students take active roles; combining independent, collaborative and whole class learning to maximize student understanding and learning).

• Describe how you have demonstrated consistent language arts leadership and advocacy in your school community and the teaching profession.  (e.g. Collaborating effectively with other teachers, administrators, school staff, and local community; taking responsibility for engaging in continuous, purposeful professional development; seeking opportunities to positively impact teaching quality, school improvements and student achievement).

Application Materials

Anyone nominated for the Outstanding Language Arts Educator Award will be asked to submit the following materials:

• Written responses with evidence addressing the three areas above
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae