CRESTVIEW — Halloween is the deadline to nominate an inspirational high school STEM teacher for a $5,000 teaching award, and that’s no holiday trick.
The Paul Hsu Foundation Teaching Excellence Awards in Math and Science, or TEAMS, established by area engineer and entrepreneur Dr. Paul Hsu, will present two of the gifts to teachers in North Okaloosa County schools.
“The three eligible schools — Baker, Crestview and Laurel Hill — all have teachers who have already been nominated in math, science or allied technologies,” said Dennis Mitchell, chairman of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s Paul Hsu Foundation Committee.
“However, there are many more excellent teachers who deserve to be nominated for this initial year for the awards,” Mitchell said.
Students, parents, other faculty, administrators, “and people just interested in supporting teacher excellence for these fields,” can nominate a teacher, Mitchell said.
Teachers may also nominate themselves, he added.
All nominations must be received by Oct. 31. Mitchell’s committee will then begin evaluating the nominees. The awards’ recipients will be announced at the end of the 2014-15 academic year.
HOW TO NOMINATE A TEACHER
Anyone may nominate a North Okaloosa County high school-level math, science or allied technologies (such as computer science) teacher for the Paul Hsu Foundation Teaching Excellence Awards in Math and Science administered by the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce.
Awards will be presented per the following criteria:
1. Any math, science, and allied technology teachers in grades 9 through 12 are eligible
2. Nominees must be full-time faculty at Crestview, Baker and Laurel Hill schools who teach at least 50 percent of their course load in the math, science or allied technologies
3. Two eligible teachers will be awarded $5000 each for the school year 2014-2015
4. Nominations can be made by anyone; a teacher may self-nominate
5. To nominate a teacher, visit www.crestviewchamber.com, go to “News & Info,” and click on “PHF TEAMS.”
The nomination form can be emailed to the PSF TEAMS committee, or can be delivered or mailed to the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 1447 Commerce Dr., Crestview FL 32539.
6. All completed nominations must be received by the chamber by close of business Oct. 31.
Information: Contact PSF TEAMS chairman Dennis Mitchell, phf_teams@crestviewchamber.com or 758-0490; or Bob Jones, 865-9393.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: $5,000 Hsu teacher awards nominations are due Oct. 31