Vermont-NEA believes that all students deserve the highest quality education and that the single most essential ingredient is a caring, competent, and qualified teacher who is supported by skilled and committed school support staff. Expert teachers who understand both the subjects they teach and the children they teach make the most important difference in student achievement. Therefore, Vermont-NEA will select and honor one of its active members each year in order to celebrate teaching excellence, public education, and our dedicated school workforce. The Angelo J. Dorta Award for Teaching Excellence will be presented annually to recognize, reward, and promote excellence in public school teaching and underscore high standards of service to students and to the teaching profession. All active teacher and Education Support Professional (ESP) members of Vermont-NEA are eligible to be nominated for this award. Vermont-NEA statewide officers and Board Directors are ineligible for this award during their years of service on the Board. Nominations are judged according to their professional practice; advocacy for the profession; commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice; family and community engagement; and leadership in professional development. Applicants must submit a nomination letter from the state or local affiliate president explaining why the awardee deserves the award, citing as many specific examples as possible. Up to 3 letters of endorsement must also be submitted. Letters of endorsement are written by the nominee's local affiliate president, colleagues, current or former students, parents, or community members. Nominations may be submitted through mail or email. Please visit the award's website for more information.