Community Corner

Show Your Favorite Teacher Some Love — And Help Them Win Prizes, Too

Share why you appreciate your favorite teacher, and that teacher and school could win money and prizes.

By Jennifer van der Kleut

No matter how old you get, you can always remember your favorite teacher — the one who made school a little more fun, a little less boring, or a lot more inspiring.

Now, children in the greater McLean area can show their favorite teacher just how special and important they are, and how much they appreciate them, by nominating them for Barnes & Noble's My Favorite Teacher contest.

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The winning teachers will win gift cards, Nooks and thousands of dollars in cash — and the schools can win cash as well.

Barnes & Noble is now accepting nominations from middle and high school students in Fairfax County. The nominations can be in the form of essays, poems or thank-you letters "that share how their teacher has influenced their life and why they appreciate and admire their teacher," said Sarah Emmett, community relations manager of Barnes & Noble in the city of Fairfax, which is the hub of the contest in Fairfax County.

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"Entries will be judged on the compelling nature of the teacher’s qualities, the sincerity of the student’s appreciation, and the quality of expression and writing," she said.

The contest is broken down into local and regional winners, from which the Barnes & Noble national Teacher of the Year will be chosen. 

The local winning teacher will be recognized at an event at the Fair Lakes Barnes & Noble where they will receive an award and honors. The student who writes the winning entry will also receive a certificate of recognition.

The local winner will then be entered into the regional contest. Each regional winner will win a Nook and a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card. 

From the regional winners, the book store chain will select its national Teacher of the Year. The national winner will win $5,000 cash, plus $5,000 for his or her school. A ceremony honoring the national winner will be held at his or her local store.

"The Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher contest is just one more way for Barnes & Noble and the community to recognize how important teachers can be in their students’ lives,” she said. "A gesture as simple and pure as a child writing kind words about their teacher and reading it aloud to them at a My Favorite Teacher celebration often prompts tears among many involved."

To Nominate a Teacher

Entries can be collected by teachers or administrators at any school in Fairfax County, and Emmett will come to the school to collect them.

Entries also can be mailed to Sarah Emmett, Community Relations Manager, Barnes & Noble Fairfax, 12193 Fair Lakes Promeande Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033.

Anyone with questions can contact Emmett at 703-278-8527.

For more information on the contest, click here.


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