Guest Article by Academy fellow Rosemary Mangosing Baker

Great teachers have a lot in common...

The Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards have found that great teachers are dedicated, innovative leaders in their field.

Candidate Qualifications

• employed and working directly with children birth through age eight a minimum of 30 hours per week in a public, private, or parochial school, preschool, childcare center, Head Start program, or licensed family child care home
• completed a minimum of five full years as an early childhood teacher
• works in Cook County, Illinois, or DuPage County, Illinois
• will sign a certificate of agreement to actively participate in Academy activities if a winner

Five winners will be selected and each will receive:

• A $5,000 cash prize
• A $1,000 cash prize for his or her school or center
• A visit from the Story Bus providing hands-on learning for early literacy
• A field trip to the Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago
• A graduate-level course at Chicago's renowned Erikson Institute
• Induction into the Kohl McCormick Academy of Outstanding Educators

Copyright 2000 Dolores Kohl Education Foundation