The 2002 Blind Educator of the Year Award

The 2002 Blind Educator of the Year Award

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The Braille Monitor, December 2001

Edition

The 2002 Blind Educator of the Year Award

by Stephen O. Benson

Steve Benson

From the Editor: Steve Benson is a member

of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind and President

of the NFB of Illinois. He also chairs the committee charged with identifying

each year's Blind Educator of the Year. Here is what he has to say:

A number of years ago the Blind Educator of the Year

Award was established by the National Organization of Blind Educators (the teachers

division of the National Federation of the Blind) to pay tribute to a blind

teacher whose exceptional classroom performance, notable community service,

and uncommon commitment to the NFB merit national recognition. Beginning with

the 1991 presentation, this award became an honor bestowed by our entire movement.

This change reflects our recognition of the importance of good teaching and

the impact an outstanding blind teacher has on students, faculty, community,

and all blind Americans.

This award is given in the spirit of the outstanding

educators who founded and have continued to nurture the National Federation

of the Blind and who, by example, have imparted knowledge of our strengths to

us and raised our expectations. We have learned from Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, Dr.

Kenneth Jernigan, and President Marc Maurer that a teacher not only provides

a student with information but also provides guidance and advocacy. The recipient

of the Blind Educator of the Year Award must exhibit all of these traits and

must advance the cause of blind people in the spirit and philosophy of the National

Federation of the Blind.

The Blind Educator of the Year Award is presented at

the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind. Honorees must

be present to receive an appropriately inscribed plaque and a check for $1,000.

Nominations should be sent to Steve Benson, 7020 North

Tahoma, Chicago, Illinois 60646. Letters of nomination must be accompanied

by a copy of the nominee's current resume and supporting documentation of community

and Federation activity. All nomination materials must be in the hands of the

committee chairman by May 15, 2002, to be considered for this year's award.

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