One outstanding Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) teacher will be selected to represent the county in the competition for the 2003-2004 Maryland Teacher of the Year. Nominations for the county Teacher of the Year will be accepted until February 17, 2004. Candidates must be classroom, resource, or media teachers who spend the majority of their time teaching and must have completed a minimum of five years of teaching. Teachers may self-nominate or be nominated by someone else -- students, colleagues, principals, supervisors, or parents.

The Montgomery County Teacher of the Year Award will be announced at the "Champions for Children" Awards Gala on Wednesday, May 5, at the Bethesda Marriott. The honoree will be awarded several prizes, including use of a new car for one year, donated by Fitzgerald Auto Malls, $2,000 cash award, a four-night stay at any Marriott in the United States, and other special gifts.

The Montgomery County Teacher of the Year program draws public attention to work being done by the county's many fine teachers. It is sponsored by the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education, MCPS, Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Supervisory Personnel, Montgomery County Education Association, and SEIU Local 500 AFL-CIO. Underwriting support for the Champions for Children gala comes from Lockheed Martin, PEPCO, COMCAST Cablevision, Marriott Corporation, Bank of America and other corporate sponsors.

The county Teacher of the Year will be automatically entered into the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition. The Maryland Teacher of the Year represents teachers on committees and advisory boards and is invited to speak throughout the year at a variety of conferences and conventions. The teacher receives a personal cash award and other gifts and prizes.

For nomination brochures and applications, available after December 15, contact Alan Rosenthal or Ginger Corpuz at 301-279-3270. Completed nominations must be submitted no later than February 17, 2004, either by internal mail to the Office of Human Resources, Suite 401, or by U.S. mail to 7361 Calhoun Place, #401, Rockville MD 20855.