Newark Students, Heed The Call: 'My Favorite Teacher' Contest Now Accepting Entries

Have a favorite teacher that you always wished would get the kudos that he or she deserves? Here’s your chance to make it happen.

Barnes & Noble is seeking submissions for its national 2016 “My Favorite Teacher Contest,” which provides middle and high school students the opportunity to tell their communities how much they appreciate their teachers.

According to a company news release, students can nominate their teacher by writing essays, poems or thank-you letters that share how their teacher has influenced their life and why they appreciate and admire their teacher. Participating schools collect the essays and submit them to Barnes & Noble stores for consideration.

“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,” the release stated.

Teachers from grades 1 through 12 are eligible for nomination. Awards for winning teachers, schools and students include cash prizes, NOOK by Samsung devices and more.

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 in the spring at an event at a local Barnes & Noble store, where they will receive a special award acknowledging their achievement and additional recognition and praise from their community. The student who wrote the winning essay or poem will receive a certificate of recognition and also be honored at the ceremony.

Each regional winner will receive a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card and a NOOK by Samsung. From the pool of regional winners, Barnes & Noble will name one teacher the Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year. The winning teacher will receive $5,000 and the title of “Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher of the Year.” The national winner will be recognized at a special community celebration at their local Barnes & Noble store, and the winning teacher’s school will receive $5,000. The student who writes the national winning essay, poem or thank-you letter will win a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card and a NOOK by Samsung device.

Students who want to participate must submit their essay or poem to Barnes & Noble stores, including Barnes & Noble Livingston, by March 1. Only middle and high school students and active teachers employed in elementary, middle or high schools in the United States are eligible to win.

More details on the contest rules, and photos and the winning essay from the 2015 Contest, can be found at www.bn.com/myfavoriteteacher.

The Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest ends March 1, 2016.