Family & Community Alternative Education
Community Service Learning

The Community Service-Learning (CSL) Advisory Council to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is pleased to announce the Annual Massachusetts Service-Learning Teacher Leader Award. This honor provides recognition to outstanding teachers committed to service-learning as a teaching methodology that connects school-based curriculum with students' service in the community.

The CSL Advisory Council will present up to ten awards honoring Massachusetts teachers fostering CSL as a strategy for deepening students' engagement in both school and in their communities. Awards will be presented at the Annual Statewide Service-Learning Conference on May 7, 2009 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

Nomination Process
A Superintendent, Principal, Teacher, Curriculum/CSL Coordinator, or Student is asked to submit a letter of recommendation that includes the following:

A. How the nominee engages his/her students in high-quality CSL. Include at least one example of a high-quality service-learning project the nominee has implemented with his/her students. The description should include: the community need the project met, service provided, curriculum connections, opportunities for youth voice and student leadership development, opportunities for student reflection, identified community partner(s), and the community impact of the service–learning project.

B. How the nominee generates school/community wide support for service-learning.

C. How the nominee serves as a leader/mentor for other teachers interested in service-learning.

D. How the nominee acknowledges individuals responsible for program success.

Nominations received no later than 5pm on March 3, 2009 will be eligible for review by the CSL Advisory Committee. Please submit nomination to Kristen McKinnon, Community Service-Learning Specialist, via email: kmckinnon@doe.mass.edu

For more information, contact Kristen McKinnon at (781) 338-6306 or kmckinnon@doe.mass.edu.