Teaching Awards

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The teaching awards were established by the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Minister of Education in 2021 to acknowledge the leadership role that educators play in the lives of students.

The Premier’s Award for Innovation in Teaching honours outstanding K-12 teachers in all disciplines who have demonstrated innovation in instruction and a commitment to preparing their students for future success.

The Minister’s Award for Compassion in Teaching recognizes inspirational and compassionate K-12 teachers who have gone above and beyond to support the social, emotional and mental well-being of their students, colleagues or school community as a whole.

Selection Criteria

Premier’s Award for Innovation in Teaching

Award recipients are innovative educators who use new, different, and “out of the box” ways to deliver the curriculum to engage students. Nomination forms should give examples of how the teacher:

  • Improves student success and engagement.
  • Demonstrates leadership (e.g. mentoring, share practices, initiating projects).
  • Uses innovative approaches to instruction in the classroom. Examples of innovation may include, but are not limited to:
    • Engages students in authentic project-based learning.
    • Supports teaching and learning through innovative teaching tools, practices, or resources.
    • Leverages technology to support teaching.

Read about last year’s award recipients here.

Minister’s Award for Compassion in Teaching

Award recipients are compassionate educators who make a significant difference in supporting the social, emotional and/or mental well-being of their school community. Nomination forms should give examples of how the teacher:

  • Improves student success and engagement.
  • Fosters respectful relationships and partnerships.
  • Supports the well-being of the school community through teaching and learning.
  • Demonstrates leadership (e.g. mentoring, sharing practices, initiating projects).
  • Promotes safe, inclusive and equitable spaces in the school environment.

Read about last year’s award recipients here.

Guidelines

Nominations for the 2025 teaching awards must be submitted by May 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Late entries will not be considered.

Who is eligible?

  • Certified teachers (including non-retired substitute teachers) at the primary, elementary or secondary level.
  • Teachers must be employed in an English or French K-12 public school in Newfoundland and Labrador (inclusive of First Nations schools on reserve)
  • The selection committee will consider regional representation in the selection of award winners (Eastern; Central, Western; Labrador, and the Francophone school district.)

Who Can Nominate?

Nominators may be any person or group with direct knowledge of the nominee’s contribution, such as:

  • Student
  • Parent/caregiver
  • Colleague
  • School administrator or supervisor

Self-nominations or nominations from immediate family members will not be accepted.

What do recipients receive?

  • The Premier and/or Minister will present the awards to the recipients at a special ceremony in St. John’s in June 2025. Award recipients will receive travel support to attend the ceremony.
  • A plaque/award from the Premier or Minister of Education, depending on the award.
  • Promotion of their best teaching practices.
  • Provincial recognition for their contribution to excellence in education in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nominate a Teacher

Nominators need to submit a nomination package that includes:

  • A completed and signed nomination form (available in pdf and word), including a description that will outline how the teacher meets the selection criteria.
  • A signed letter of support from the nominee’s principal or supervisor.
  • Optional: 1 -2 letter(s)/testimonial(s) of support (see nomination form).

Submitting Nominations

Nominations can be sent by email or by mail:

  • Email submissions can be sent to teachersawards@gov.nl.ca by May 9, 2025 at 11:59p.m. The total file size cannot exceed 20MB. After submitting the nomination, you will receive a confirmation email.
  • For mail or courier submissions, make sure your envelope is postmarked by the deadline date of May 9, 2025 and sent to the following address:

Mail:
Teachers Awards
Department of Education
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6

Courier:
Teachers Awards
Department of Education
3rd Floor, West Block
Confederation Building, St. John’s, NL

Past Recipients

Recipients of 2024 Teaching Awards