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TEACHER AWARDS

WEF has established two teacher awards – the David Trigaux Innovation Award and the Elizabeth W. Stokes Founder’s Award.


David Trigaux Innovation Award

Purpose

The Weston Education Foundation gives the David Trigaux Innovation Award to a teacher who has demonstrated an unusual level of originality and dedication toward creative teaching – a teacher who has truly made a difference in our school community.
The Award is named for David Trigaux — teacher, principal, program administrator, and former superintendent of the Weston Schools — who was widely recognized for encouraging creativity in education and for his support of teachers who brought it to their classrooms. He also played a critical role in the founding and early evolution of The Weston Education Foundation.

Who May Nominate

Any Weston school administrator or certified or non-certified staff member may nominate a teacher for the Trigaux Award.  Self-nomination is not permitted.  The deadline for nominations is May 1st.

Funding

The Trigaux Award is a cash gift of $2,000, which may be used in any way that fosters innovation in the classroom, including travel, studies, or work outside the classroom.  WEF’s objective is to enable the teacher to pursue his/her work with increased vigor.

Eligibility

The nominee must:

  • Have introduced substantive curricular innovations that may be replicated by others.
  • Have invented new and effective ways of teaching a broad range of students and responding to the diverse needs of all students in the classroom.
  • Have taught in Weston for at least four years; been granted tenure in Connecticut; be a teacher in good standing; and be returning to the Weston schools in the coming year.

Nomination Process

  • Click here for the nomination form. E-mail completed form to grants@westoneducationfoundation.org.
  • WEF will request information from each nominee following nomination.
  • The Weston Education Foundation’s Grants Committee will review all nominations and submit up to three names to the WEF Board, along with its recommendation.  The Board will vote on the Award at its spring meeting.

Elizabeth W. Stokes Founder’s Award

Purpose

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of our founding in 1994, WEF established a second teacher award – the Elizabeth W. Stokes Founder’s Award.
The Founder’s Award seeks to recognize and reward a teacher who has provided a unique or unusual experience outside the classroom to Weston students as part of the curricular experience. The Founder’s Award is named for Elizabeth W. Stokes, a long-time Weston resident who founded WEF in 1994. Recognizing the growing challenge facing administrators in finding sufficient funds to bring new technology into the Weston schools, Ms. Stokes researched alternative funding vehicles and led the effort that culminated in creating WEF.

Who May Nominate

Any current Weston student or parent of a Weston student may nominate a teacher for the Founder’s Award. Self-nomination is not permitted. The deadline for nominations is March 1 of each year. The recipient will be announced during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.

Funding

The Founder’s Award is a cash gift of $1,000. The recipient will be expected to use the funds to provide similar rewarding experiences for future Weston students.

Eligibility

The nominee must:

  • have incorporated an innovative and educational out-of-classroom experience into the curriculum

  • show a demonstrated impact on one or more students because of this experience

  • be a teacher in good standing and be returning to the Weston schools in the upcoming school year

Nomination Process

  • Download the nomination form here. Email completed form to grants@westoneducationfoundation.org.

  • WEF will request information from each nominee following nomination.

  • The WEF Grants Committee will review all nominations and submit up to three names to the WEF Board, along with its recommendation. The Board will vote on the Award prior to Teacher Appreciation Week in May.