Awards

We would like to share in your successes!

Candidates for TAACE awards must be nominated by a TAACE member.  As a reminder, TAACE members are also a member of the COABE national organization. The nominator of the winning award recipient should check if there is a matching COABE award and then resubmit the TAACE award recipient’s name to COABE on the COABE nomination form(s).  In previous years, COABE winners received monetary gifts as part of the awards.

The following awards will be presented at our annual meeting.

• TAACE Outstanding Adult Learner of the Year (Student of the Year)
• TAACE Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year
• TAACE Volunteer of the Year
• TAACE Adult Education Needs Grant

Please note: The following awards will not be COABE compatible if any of these are self-nominations (Outstanding Adult Learner of the Year and Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year.

TAACE Martha Brown Adult Learner of the Year (Tennessee Adult Learner of the Year)

The Martha Brown Adult Learner of the Year Award is provided to a student who has demonstrated leadership within the adult education learning environment. This award is given to a student who has overcome difficult circumstances in order to pursue their education, has supported other adult learners, while managing their other responsibilities, such as those related to employment, family, or their community.

TAACE Martha Brown Adult Learner of the Year Award Criteria:

1. The nominee must be an adult learner as defined by the sponsoring organization. He or she must have significant adult responsibilities, such as those relating to employment, family, or community.
2. Has improved the life situation(s) of self/others as a result of learning experience.
3. Has demonstrated leadership within formal or non-traditional learning environments.
4. Has maintained family, civic, or employment responsibilities while pursuing his/her educational goals.
5. Has overcome difficult circumstances in order to pursue adult learning experiences.
6. Has been supportive of others engaged in adult learning.
7. The nominee must have been an Adult Education student or self-directed learner within 12 months prior to the nomination date.

Please describe, with a limit of 2 pages, the reasons for nominating the volunteer. Include as many categories as possible in your description. Attach additional materials as necessary – i.e. any photos, news clippings, or press releases about the volunteer who is nominated.

* Self-nominations will not be accepted.

TAACE Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year

The Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year Award is modeled after the COABE award. It is provided to a practitioner with two or more years of adult education teaching experience that participates in school and community activities. This award is given to an individual who understands the characteristics of the adult learner and who is committed to the adult education profession.

Award Criteria:

1. A current practitioner with two or more years of adult education teaching experience.
2. Participates in school and community activities.
3. Communicates effectively with learners, colleagues, and supervisors.
4. Committed to the adult continuing education profession.
5. Committed to his/her own lifelong learning (evidence of professional development).
6. Assists learners in formulating personal learning objectives and assessing progress towards those objectives.
7. Provides a non-threatening, supportive atmosphere for learning, which fosters freedom of thought and expression.
8. Understands the physical, psychological, social, and cognitive characteristics of the adult learner.
9. Accepts the learner’s cultural and ethnic uniqueness.
10. Uses the instructional methods, techniques, materials, and resources most appropriate for the learning tasks and characteristics of the adult learner.

Please describe, with a limit of 2 pages, the reasons for nominating the volunteer. Include as many categories as possible in your description. Attach additional materials as necessary – i.e. any photos, news clippings, or press releases about the volunteer who is nominated.

* Self-nominations will not be accepted

TAACE Volunteer of the Year

This TAACE award honors a volunteer who contributes significant commitment or has an impact upon the community, program, or students’ needs.

Award Criteria:

1. The nominee must be a volunteer as defined by the sponsoring organization. He or she must have made significant contributions to the sponsoring organization and have received no compensation for his/her work.
2. The nominee must have been an active volunteer within twelve months of the nomination date to be considered.

Nominees should demonstrate success in many of the following categories:

1. Has made a significant contribution to the Adult Education program.
2. Has visibly improved the life situation(s) of self/others as a result of volunteering.
3. Has demonstrated leadership within formal or non-traditional environments.
4. Has been supportive of others engaged in volunteerism.
5. Has maintained family, civic, or employment responsibilities at a high level while serving as a volunteer.

Please describe, with a limit of 2 pages, the reasons for nominating the volunteer. Include as many categories as possible in your description. Attach additional materials as necessary – i.e. any photos, news clippings, or press releases about the volunteer who is nominated.

TAACE Adult Education Needs Grant

This TAACE award is presented to a recipient or program to support activities or projects in the field of adult education. It may fund, or partially fund those activities or projects that meet a particular need in Tennessee’s adult education community.

The award includes a monetary gift, predetermined by the board, which must be used for adult education activities or projects. Nominees must be a TAACE member, submit a TAACE nomination form, explanation of need, current funding sources, and history of success serving adults. Three awards will be available, one per each grand division per year, up to $300 per award.

The Candidate selected from those nominated will be honored during the Tennessee Adult Education Academy for Instructional Excellence conference.
The TAACE Board of Directors/Award committee will serve as a panel to select a winner from those individuals/programs nominated. Nominations must be submitted at least two months prior to the aforementioned state conference.