Exemplary Practices 2008

About the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence

The Prime Minister's Awards (PMA) for Teaching Excellence program honours out-standing and innovative elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines who instill in their students a love of learning and use information and communications technologies to better equip them with the skills to build a successful future. The 2008 awards were administered by Industry Canada on behalf of the Prime Minister and in partnership with Microsoft Canada, Petro-Canada, RBC Foundation and Research In Motion.

The education stakeholders from across Canada who make up the national and regional selection committees look for evidence that teachers achieve outstanding results with students, inspire them to learn and continue learning, use information and communications technology in the classroom and equip them with the knowledge, attitudes, and abilities they need to succeed in our changing society and knowledge-based economy.

Teachers may receive one of two awards: the Certificate of Excellence and the Certificate of Achievement. All recipients receive a certificate signed by the Prime Minister. In addition, each recipient's school receives a cash award to be used under the recipient's direction and a certificate recognizing its support of and contribution to the teacher's achievement.

Certificate of Excellence recipients travel to Ottawa where they participate in best practice sessions, and receive their award at a national event. Certificate of Achievement recipients are honoured at local events involving supervisors, colleagues, and local Members of Parliament or local leaders, as appropriate.