Contact: Melissa Salmanowitz (DCPS) | 202-535-1096 | Contact Email

Seven highly effective educator from across the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) were named 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award winners today.  These teachers learned of this prestigious honor, which comes with a $10,000 prize, when visitors surprised them in their schools. Senior DCPS leaders visited classrooms starting at 8:45 on Monday morning. Follow the hashtag #StandingOvationDC on social media to see photos and videos from the visits.

The outstanding educators announced as Excellence winners include a physical education teacher, music teacher, special education teacher, high school math teacher and three elementary school teachers. More information about teaching and leadership awards are available here.

On January 12, 2015, DCPS and the DC Public Education Fund will honor and showcase these award winners, along with over 1,400 highly effective DCPS educators – this highest number in DCPS history – during the fifth annualStanding Ovation for DC Teachers at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  

DCPS educators, students, parents and community members nominate teachers for this award. A panel, which includes parents, principals, teacher leaders, instructional superintendents and other program staff select the final list of winners. All Highly Effective educators are eligible for nomination.  The awards are made possible due to the generosity of David Rubenstein, co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle Group and chairman of the Kennedy Center.

DCPS and the DC Public Education Fund will announce other award winners in the coming weeks including the names of the 2014 Principal of the Year, Teacher of the Year and the Rubenstein Awards for Highly Effective Educators. The Rubenstein Award includes a $5,000 prize.

More information about teaching and leadership awards are available here.