Any public or private middle or high school classroom teacher in Virginia is eligible for the respective Awards. Nominations may be made either by self-nomination or by a nominator. The winner will be selected on the basis of his or her demonstrated knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject. Past winners of the Award are not eligible for five years. Unsuccessful nominees for the 2005 Award may re-submit last year's nomination by returning the nomination form, unless the 2005 nomination was itself a re-submission, in which case a new nomination package must be submitted.
A $2,500 award will be presented to the middle school winner and to the high school winner.
Nominations must be submitted not later than March 30, 2006. Awards will be presented on May 1, 2006, in a special ceremony at the John Marshall House in Richmond.
A nomination package consists of a completed form
with two attached letters; an additional third letter is optional.
The letters should be short (one to two single-spaced typed pages each, with
no attachments or enclosures) and should provide concrete examples rather than
generalized endorsements.
Letters should come from the following sources:
• Current area supervisor (e.g.,
department chairperson) or a fellow educator.
This letter should include specific examples of the nominee's knowledge
of and enthusiasm for the Constitution, as evidenced by activities inside and
outside the classroom, along with information on the nominee's methodology,
ability and success in communicating knowledge and enthusiasm for the Constitution
to students.
• The nominee (for self-nominations)
or the nominator.
This letter should address all of the above-mentioned criteria, including
at least one tested teaching idea as it relates to teaching the Constitution.
Optional letter (strongly encouraged):
• A former student or parent
of a former student.
This letter should focus on the nominee's role in the classroom and school
and his or her achievements as an educator.
The John Marshall Foundation wishes to recognize excellence in teaching the Constitution at the middle and high school levels and provides the foregoing criteria as an orderly way to assess such excellence.
Three copies of each nomination package (form plus attached letters) must be submitted before the March 30, 2006, deadline to
The John Marshall Foundation
c/o Brian L. Hager
Hunton & Williams LLP
Riverfront Plaza, East Tower
951 East Byrd Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-4074
Non-winning nominations for the 2005 Award may be re-submitted by returning only the nomination form, unless the 2005 nomination was itself a re-submission, in which case a new nomination must be submitted.
Nominations will be judged by a panel of The John Marshall Foundation Board and others convened for the purpose of judging nominees. The mechanics of judging and the ultimate decision on the Award are within the sole discretion of The John Marshall Foundation. The Foundation reserves the right to alter the terms of this announcement as it deems appropriate.
The Virginia Bar Association and APVA Preservation Virginia created The John Marshall Foundation in 1987. Its purpose is to help provide for the restoration and operation of the John Marshall House and the John Marshall Gravesite as permanent memorials to Chief Justice Marshall, and to sponsor educational and public interest programs in the fields of law, government, history and public affairs. The Foundation continues to solicit contributions from the public to accomplish these goals. The Foundation may be contacted at the following address:
Lynn Brackenridge, MS, CFRE
Executive Director
The John Marshall Foundation
209 West Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: (804) 775-0861
E-mail: lynnb@johnmarshallfoundation.org
Copyright 2007 The Virginia Bar Association