Office of Speaker Dennis M. O'Brien
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
139 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Jeanne H. Schmedlen
Speaker O'Brien Announces 2008 Golden Apple Awards for Education Program
HARRISBURG, April 3 — Speaker of the House Dennis O'Brien today announced that nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 Speaker's Golden Apple Awards for Education Innovation.
Beginning its fourth year, the program highlights and recognizes successful innovative programs in Pennsylvania's public schools. The awards are open to all Pennsylvania public elementary, middle and secondary schools, as well as area vocational-technical schools (AVTS), charter schools and intermediate units.
“In its initial year, the program received in excess of 100 nominations from an array of public schools throughout the Commonwealth,” said O'Brien. “It's clear that our public schools greatly appreciate the opportunity to have their successful programs recognized and rewarded and to share their best educational practices with peers across the state and country.”
Six Golden Apple Awards will be presented on June 9 at the state Capitol.
O'Brien announced that the award categories this year will be: administrative leadership, applied studies, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics and parental involvement.
Any Pennsylvania public school, school district, AVTS, charter school or IU seeking to nominate a program in any of the six categories is eligible. Teachers, parents, school board members, administrators and private citizens are all eligible to nominate a program they believe is outstanding and worthy of statewide recognition. The deadline for this year's award nominations is Friday, April 25.
Review panels comprised of professional educators and other experts in the category fields will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating the submitted nominations and selecting the Golden Apple recipients. The Speaker's Golden Apple Advisory Committee, directed by Rep. James R. Roebuck, Jr., chairman of the House Education Committee, and composed of other legislators, educators, business and community leaders, will announce the winners in June. Recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the State Capitol and links to the winning programs will be included on the program website found at www.goldenappleawards.com.
“The program's high success through the years encourages me that this year will be even more successful in recognizing innovation in public education.” O'Brien said. “By recognizing what works in public schools through the Golden Apple Awards Program and sharing that information with other education institutions, we hope to improve the entire education system in Pennsylvania and provide a better future for our children.”
Additional information about the Speaker's Golden Apple Awards for Education Innovation, including guidelines and a nomination form, is available at the program website listed above.
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