Townsend Press is pleased to announce the creation of ongoing $1,000 awards for outstanding college teachers of developmental reading and/or writing skills classes.

Why This Contest?

While some college faculty distinguish themselves through research or service to their departments, others make their greatest contribution by teaching developmental students.  Those of us who have taught developmental reading and writing know that many of these students face enormous challenges. They need the language skills that will help them succeed in the classroom. And they often need added human support for the many real-world obstacles they face outside of the classroom.  

Many teachers rise to these challenges and show an extraordinary dedication to helping their students learn. On a caring and steady basis, semester after semester, they provide persistent, patient, sensitive, and respectful support—honoring the dignity and humanity of those in their classes. It is these teachers that TP would like to recognize.

Requirements

• Candidates must be active college instructors who have taught developmental reading and/or writing students for at least a three-year period. They should have taught at least three developmental classes per semester during that time.

• Candidates should be consistently “on the front lines,” working with developmental students, helping them learn the reading and/or writing skills they need to become successful in school. Ideally, each nominee will be highly regarded by colleagues for his or her teaching skills and should have earned much positive feedback from students.

• Candidates must be nominated by the chairperson of their developmental department.

• Only one candidate per college can be nominated each semester.

Procedures

1. A department chairperson must write a letter of nomination to Townsend Press. The nomination letter should describe the candidate and indicate what makes him or her an outstanding, student-dedicated teacher. Specific details illustrating the candidate’s exceptional dedication and teaching ability should be included in the letter.

2. The candidate must include a 1-2 page personal statement that expresses his or her goals as a teacher of developmental students.

3. Nomination materials should be sent to:    

Townsend Press Teaching Awards
439 Kelley Drive
West Berlin, NJ 08091

4. The awards are ongoing, so nominations may be presented at any time.