Nominations are now being accepted for the
Norma Jean Anderson Civil Rights and Academic
Achievement Award
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING NOMINEES for the NORMA JEAN ANDERSON
CIVIL RIGHTS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
I. Recipients of the award will be employed by the Amherst and/or Amherst-
Pelham Regional school districts as a teacher, administrator or staff person in the
year the award is presented.
II. Recipients of this award shall be nominated by students, parents, community
members, teachers, staff and administrators of the Amherst and/or Amherst-
Pelham Regional school districts. The person nominating must write a statement
of no less than one page and not more than three pages explaining why the
nominee meets the criteria. Specific examples are encouraged.
III. Nominations should be sent to RaDAR (Race and Discipline Action Rights)
Committee by January 2, 2013 at noon. Please address nominations to
Reynolds Winslow at reynbaker@yahoo.com; or mail to: RaDAR, c/o Reynolds
Winslow 1040 N. Pleasant Street, Apt. 219, Amherst, MA 01002.
IV. The final selection of the recipient of the award will be made by the RaDAR
Committee. The award will be presented at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast,
Saturday, January 19, 2013.
V. Criteria for nomination
The nominee shall demonstrate capacity in one or more of the following:
1. The Nominee demonstrates an interest and willingness to assist students of
color and students less privileged by virtue of class background beyond the
“usual and routine” requirements of the teaching/administrative/staff position.
2. The Nominee demonstrates an interest in the safety of students of color and
students less privileged by virtue of class background and works to insure that
the school where s/he teaches or works is a safe environment for all students.
3. In the case of a teacher, the Nominee must show evidence of holding all
students to high standards of academic excellence and demonstrates fairness in
grading.
4. The Nominee shares with colleagues the skills and information for creating
and encouraging a classroom or school environment where the unique strengths
and talents of all students are enhanced.
5. The Nominee participates with colleagues in the planning of curriculum goals
for the classroom or the development of administrative and staff goals free of
racism, classism, prejudice and discrimination. The Nominee helps to reveal the
explicit as well as subtle and implicit advantages of whiteness and economic
security in our society and school community which distorts a fair and impartial
education for all.
6. The Nominee works with parents and community members as well as fellow
teachers, administrators and staff in promoting a school/school system free of
racism, prejudice and discrimination.
