Jeannine King S.P.A.R.K. (Special Populations Advocate, Relationship-Builder, and Knowledge-Sharer) Award Nomination

The Jeannine King S.P.A.R.K. Award recognizes one Special Education educator and one MLL/ELL educator (teacher, leader, coordinator) for their inclusive practices. Recipients have their work showcased on the Collaborative's website and receive a $250 prize.

Picture of Jeanine King

The Jeannine King S.P.A.R.K. Award was established in honor of our beloved colleague, Jeannine King, who passed away in April 2023. Jeannine served as an Inclusive Education Specialist at the Collaborative and, prior to that, as a member of the Bronx Community Charter School community for 13 years, holding various positions in special education and leadership. She was a dedicated and passionate advocate for equitable and inclusive education for all children, generously shared her knowledge and experience with peers, and always encouraged thoughtful consideration of student perspectives and genuine relationship-building.

Jeannine began each training she facilitated by sharing a quote from Dr. Chris Emdin: "True teaching is only effective when it triggers something that lasts forever or SPARKS a desire in the student to discover more beyond the classroom."

Through the S.P.A.R.K. award, we aim to honor Jeannine's legacy by recognizing educators who embody the same traits and values of educational excellence and inclusion to which Jeannine dedicated herself with authenticity, generosity, and constancy.

Please submit your educator nominations by Thursday, March 28th, 2024.

Nominee Information:

Who would you like to nominate for the Jeannine King S.P.A.R.K. Award?

First Name:

Last Name:

What school does the nominee work at?

What type of educator is the nominee? Select all that apply.

Special Education educator (teacher, leader, coordinator)MLL/ELL educator (teacher, leader, coordinator)

What is the nominee's role in the school?

What school year are you nominating for?

Equity & Inclusion

How does this educator cultivate meaningful relationships within their educational environment to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion?
Please provide specific examples of their initiatives, interactions, and strategies that demonstrate their commitment to fostering a culture of belonging and respect among students, colleagues, and the broader community. Describe how they actively engage with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to create an inclusive learning environment where all individuals feel valued, understood, and empowered to succeed.

Upload an artifact that showcases how this educator builds relationships and promotes equity & inclusion. Examples of artifacts are a video of instruction, lesson plan, in-house presentation for colleagues, newsletter, student project, student-facing materials, internal communications, etc. Ensure the artifact demonstrates the educator's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the educational community.

*Note: There is a 30MB limit for the total size of uploaded files. If your files exceed this, you can use an online file compressor (like this one) on your files before attempting to upload. If you receive an error, email your files to specialpops@nyccharterschools.org with the subject line: "Files for Jeannine King S.P.A.R.K. Award Nominee: <Insert Nominee's Name>".

Advocacy

How does this educator demonstrate advocacy for special populations?
Please provide examples of their proactive efforts to support and empower students from diverse backgrounds. Describe how they collaborate with stakeholders, adapt teaching strategies, and provide personalized support to ensure equitable access to education and opportunities for all learners to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Upload an artifact that showcases how this educator advocates for special populations. Examples of artifacts are lesson plans, in-house presentations for colleagues, newsletters, student projects, internal communications, etc. Ensure the artifact demonstrates the educator's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the educational community.

*Note: There is a 30MB limit for the total size of uploaded files. If your files exceed this, you can use an online file compressor (like this one) on your files before attempting to upload. If you receive an error, email your files to specialpops@nyccharterschools.org with the subject line: "Files for Jeannine King S.P.A.R.K. Award Nominee: <Insert Nominee's Name>".

Knowledge-Sharing

How does this educator share their knowledge around special populations and inclusion?
Please provide examples of their initiatives to promote awareness, understanding, and best practices related to supporting diverse learners. Describe their involvement in professional development activities, workshops, presentations, or other educational forums where they share insights, strategies, and resources to enhance the capacity of colleagues and stakeholders in effectively serving students with varying needs and backgrounds. Illustrate how they leverage their experiences and expertise to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the educational community.

Upload an artifact that showcases how this educator shares their knowledge around special populations & inclusion. Examples of artifacts are a video of instruction, lesson plan, in-house presentation for colleagues, newsletter, student project, internal communications, etc. Ensure the artifact demonstrates the educator's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the educational community.

*Note: There is a 30MB limit for the total size of uploaded files. If your files exceed this, you can use an online file compressor (like this one) on your files before attempting to upload. If you receive an error, email your files to specialpops@nyccharterschools.org with the subject line: "Files for Jeannine King S.P.A.R.K. Award Nominee: <Insert Nominee's Name>".

Nominator Information:

Who is nominating this person for the Jeannine King S.P.A.R.K. award?

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Phone Number:

Contact Information