ISTA Teacher of the Year
ISTA AWARDS DESCRIPTIONS & SELECTION PROCESS
SELECTION PROCESS FOR ALL AWARDS
Nomination forms for all awards will be available on the ISTA website beginning no later than December 1 of each year.
Nomination forms must be completed and submitted by the deadline of March 15.
Nomination forms will be reviewed for completion by the ISTA Teacher Awards committee. Completed nominations will be forwarded to the ISTA Executive Board prior to April 1. The Executive Board will make the decision on each award prior to April 15.
Those selected to receive the awards will be notified and the awards will be presented at the annual conference in May.
BRUCE EILERS CLASSROOM TEACHER AWARD
Bruce Eilers was a string music educator, who retired from Waterloo West High School in 2004. He previously taught orchestra in the Cedar Rapids School District. Bruce was also conductor for the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area Youth Symphony Orchestra. He served for several years as All-State Orchestra Chair. He was an active judge and clinician for area and state-level solo/small ensemble and large group festivals.
CRITERIA
The Bruce Eilers Classroom Teacher Award is presented annually to an individual string teacher in the state of Iowa who has demonstrated excellence in the school orchestra setting. Nominees must:
Be a current member of ASTA/ISTA
Have taught in the K-12 classroom setting in the state of Iowa for a period of 10 years
Demonstrate a high level of musical knowledge and musicianship
Promote excellence in string playing among all students
Serve as a positive role model in the community
Nominations must include:
Nominee's information: name, place of employment, title, home and work addresses, email address, number of years in current position, number of years teaching in Iowa, and total years experience in music education.
Nominator’s information: name, email address, relationship to nominee, home and work addresses, phone number, and ASTA member ID number. The nominator must also include a narrative about the nominee addressing all relative qualifications for the award.
LEOPOLD LA FOSSE STUDIO TEACHER AWARD
A virtuoso of highest rank, Leopold gained international recognition for his solo appearances in recital and with symphony orchestras. He had served as the concertmaster of five symphony orchestras: San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Aspen Music Festival and the National Symphony of Peru. He had also been active in a number of chamber music groups, including his own string quartet. Prior to his appointment at the University of Iowa as Artist-teacher of violin in 1972, he was on the violin faculty of the University of Texas at Austin. He had also been a Fulbright Professor in Brazil.
CRITERIA
The Leopold La Fosse Studio Teacher Award is presented annually to an individual string teacher in the state of Iowa who has demonstrated excellence in the studio teaching setting. Nominees must:
Be a current member of ASTA/ISTA
Have taught in an established studio setting (independent or affiliated with a university or private music school/academy program) in the state of Iowa for a period of 10 or more years
Demonstrate a high level of musical knowledge and musicianship
Promote excellence in string playing among all students
Serve as a positive role model in the community
Nominations must include:
Nominee's information: name, place of employment, title, home and work addresses, email address, number of years in current position, number of years teaching in Iowa, and total years experience in music education.
Nominator’s information: name, email address, relationship to nominee, home and work addresses, phone number, and ASTA member ID number. The nominator must also include a narrative about the nominee addressing all relative qualifications for the award.
LINDA JONES EMERGING TEACHER AWARD
Linda Jones was a truly dedicated, talented, and professional musician. Mrs. Jones spent most of her professional career as the Orchestra Director at Northwest Junior High School and West High School in Iowa City, IA from 1980-1998. She also served as All-State chair in the mid-1980’s. She was always full of smiles, encouragement, patience and a true inspiration for so many students.
CRITERIA
The Linda Jones Emerging Teacher Award is presented annually to an individual string teacher in their first 5 years of teaching who has demonstrated excellence in the school orchestra setting. Nominees must:
Be a current member of ASTA/ISTA
Be within first 1-5 years of teaching in a K-12 school orchestra or private studio setting
Demonstrate a high level of musical knowledge and musicianship
Promote excellence in string playing among all students
Serve as a positive role model in the community
Nominations must include:
Nominee's information: name, place of employment, title, home and work addresses, email address, number of years in current position, and total years experience in music education (not to exceed 5).
Nominator’s information: name, email address, relationship to nominee, home and work addresses, phone number, and ASTA member ID number. The nominator must also include a narrative about the nominee addressing all relative qualifications for the award.
Follow the Nomination Link
