The 2010-2011 Alfa Teacher of the Month Program
General Information
In 1998, Alfa Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance Companies partnered with the Alabama Department of Education to create the Alfa Teacher of the Month Awards. The program honors outstanding K-12 public and private school teachers and principals with $1,000 cash awards (not grant awards) and $1,000 to their schools. The Alabama Department of Education coordinates the application process.
The State Superintendent of Education mails a call for entries to public school superintendents and to principals of public and private schools prior to the applicable award period. Each call for entries is also posted online at and specifies a deadline date for submitting entries (original and three copies) to the Department of Education. Beginning each January, Alfa honors one outstanding public school teacher from each of Alabama’s eight Alabama State Board of Education districts, two principals from public and private schools, and two private school teachers. Alfa notifies each honoree.
Schedule for Making Awards in 2010-2011Call for Entries / Deadline / Districts / Awards Schedule
January – Board District 8
February – Board District 7
March- Board District 6
April – Board District 5
May – Board District 4
June – Principals
July – Principals
Augustand September– PrivateSchool Teachers
October – Board District 3
November – Board District 2
December – Board District 1 / Sept. 3, 2010 / Oct. 19, 2010 / 6, 7, & 8 / District 6-March 2011
District 7-February2011
District 8-January 2011
Dec. 2, 2010 / Jan. 31, 2011 / 4, 5, & Principals / District 4-May 2011
District 5-April 2011
Principals-June/July 2011
March 2, 2011 / April 19, 2011 / 1, 2, 3, & Private Schools / District 1-December2011
District 2-November2011
District 3-October2011
Private Schools-August and
September 2011
ELIGIBILITY
Previous winnersare not eligible. For the 2011 award period, experience must begin no later than August 2007.
Eligible teachers must be full-time public, private, or parochial school teachers who spend more than half of their time with students in the classroom and have, at time of application, at least three complete years of classroom teaching experience.
Eligible principals must be full-time public, private, or parochial school principals and, at time of application, have at least three complete years of full-time experience as a principal (other administrative experience is not eligible).
Employees of the Alabama Farmers Federation, Alfa and all affiliated companies and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the Alfa Teacher of the Month Program.
HOW TO APPLY
- Submit a résumé. At top of page, indicate State Board of Education (SBE) District of applicant’s school (for public school teachers only). SBE Districts by school are available online at selecting “Board of Ed” button on left and “About” from pop-up menu. Scroll down to “State Board District School Listing.” Résumé should also include applicant’s name, Social Security Number, mailing address, email address (if available), daytime phone number (current and summer), professional development and educational history (schools attended and degrees earned, related employment history, professional association memberships and offices held, other awards and recognition received, and other relevant information). Indicate time period associated with each degree, employment, or activity, starting with most recent. List current school and school system (if applicable) first and include school phone number. Résumé may be single-spaced except between headings and should be in list - not narrative - form.
- Answer both of the following questions. Indicate which question you are addressing by using question as heading prior to each answer. Judges must be able to distinguish where the answer to each question begins and ends.
a.What is your philosophy of education?
- How do you apply that philosophy?
3.Include two SIGNED letters of support from any of the following: teacher, administrator, student, former student, parent, or community leader. Each letter should include author’s name and title (for example: “John Smith, former student”). Letters, résumés, and answers to questions should be mailed together.
Note: Résumé should be first page with applicant’s name and SBE District clearly visible. Résumé and answers to questions must not exceed three pages. Answers to questions must be typed, double-spaced, and all pages should be neat and legible. Use at least 10-point type. Winners will be asked to provide a “school-type” photo in a timely manner for the Alfa publication.