Education   Update welcomes our Advisory Board, Dr. Charlotte K. Frank, Senior Vice-President of McGraw-Hill and former regent of New York State, Dr. Augusta Sousa Kappner, President of Bank Street College of Education, Dr. Alfred Posamentier, Dean of City College of NY, Dr. Pola Rosen, Publisher, Education Update, Adam Sugerman, Publisher, Palmiche Press and Laurie Tisch Sussman, Chairman, The Center for Arts Education and Honorary Chair, Children's Museum of Manhattan. The Board makes the final decisions on the teachers to be honored each month.

In 2003, Education Update began the tradition of honoring teachers each month for their outstanding work on the "frontiers" of education. In the 100-year history of the New York City Department of Education, teachers had never been recognized in this way. In June, there was a rousing culminating ceremony at the Harvard Club attended by Chancellor Klein, Channel 11 TV news (and broadcast that evening), principals, superintendents, teachers and family members. One proud mother came all the way from Hawaii to honor her son.

We are now continuing the tradition of recognizing outstanding teachers which will culminate in a ceremony at the Harvard Club in June 2004. Superintendents, principals and colleagues may nominate teachers by filling out a form online. Some of the criteria are how students in the teacher's class have shown progress in their work, how and when the teacher uses innovative teaching strategies, how the teacher has motivated the students to be more involved in classroom activities, and how the teacher has increased parent and community involvement. The url has been emailed to all principals in NYC public schools. If you have not received the email please contact ednews1@aol.com. Deadline for Submissions: April 21, 2004.

Teachers are the backbone of our educational system. They richly deserve the recognition that Education Update gives them. Congratulations to this month's Outstanding Teachers of the Month in recognition of the vital role they play in our childrens' lives.

—Dr. Pola Rosen, Publisher