Disrupt Teacher of the Year Program

courtesy OpenClips via Pixabay.com

If you're a geek like me, you know that the goal of the tech industry is to disrupt markets, industries and other things that are due for a change.  As a technology director and facilitator, it's my goal to carry on this disruption in education.

The "Teacher of the Year" program is frankly a political joke that lacks any substantial merit. I want to create an awards system to recognize an array of accomplishments, lessons, and innovations of teachers. Teaching is a creative and dynamic art. We need awards based on the very traits we want our teachers to exemplify.

I'm thinking we should create awards like:

• Most Innovative Lesson of the Year
• Most Relevant Lesson of the Year (lesson has real application to our students and their surroundings)
• Best Technology Integrated Lesson of the Year
• Most Collaborative Lesson of the Year
• Best Skype (video chat) Activity of the Year
• Best Use of an Interactive Whiteboard
• Best Internet scavenger hunt/webquest of the year
• Most influential teacher of the year.
• Highest Klout score in the district (then again maybe not)

This could be an awesome incentive to inspire teachers to innovate, connect, and contribute.

What about you?  Do you think it would be fun?  Would it work? What awards would you add?