The RISE Educator Award is back for its fourth year, continuing its mission of celebrating and honouring educators who have supported students in attaining quality and equitable education.
Organised by Taylor's College and its student engagement arm, The Risers, the RISE Educator Award will open for nominations from March 18 to April 17.
The public is encouraged to nominate teachers through a 100-word story submission describing the impact these teachers have made in the lives of their students.
10 shortlisted stories will be announced on April 22 for public voting up until May 10.
One RISE Educator Award recipient will walk away with RM5,000 and a RM20,000 sponsorship to further their efforts in nurturing positive educational environments in their school.
The award winner's nominator will also take home RM500.
Four other finalists will each receive a RM10,000 sponsorship for their schools and a RM1,000 cash prize, while their nominators will each receive RM250.
EMPOWERING EDUCATORS NATIONWIDE
According to Taylor's College campus director Josephine Tan, the acronym RISE stands for Remarkable Impact in Student Education, which underscores the indispensable role that educators play in shaping the lives of students and fostering inclusive education.
"Taylor's College reaffirms our commitment to supporting educators who are driven with a purpose and inspiring impactful learning by increasing the sponsorship for the RISE Educator Award.
"We aim to empower teachers to further their mission, creating a ripple effect of positive change in classrooms and communities," she said.
RISE Educator of the Year 2023, Kumaresan Muniandy from SM Pendidikan Khas Vokasional Merbok in Kedah, utilised the sponsorship from Taylor's College to revitalise the school's Mock House Training Centre with essential household items. He also upgraded the school's Kedai Dobi OKU School Enterprise Project with industrial grade machines.
These improvements are aligned with his purpose to provide equal job opportunities and ensure that special needs students are equipped, trained and empowered for employment.
Another exceptional educator and recipient of the RISE Educator Award 2023 is Velerie Wheelervon Primus, who spearheaded his school's 'Integrated Sensory Therapy Room and Snoezelen Project'.
The SK Bingkor teacher wanted to provide a safe and nurturing space conducive to his students' overall wellbeing. The project aims to accommodate and benefit special needs students with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with designated areas for multisensory experiences.
"These inspiring initiatives exemplify the dedication and compassion of our nation's educators who go beyond conventional teaching methods to create meaningful experiences for their students.
"Through the RISE Educator Award, we hope these impactful narratives serve as inspiration for educators across the nation and around the world. After all, behind every purpose-driven educator is a story of perseverance, resilience and unwavering commitment to nurturing minds.
"We encourage everyone to join us in celebrating and recognising our educators and their efforts to amplify their endeavours and continue to inspire impactful learning," Tan added.
The public can nominate teachers from national, private and international schools who demonstrate exceptional dedication in their schooling community. Teachers who are eligible for this award include those in pre-schools, primary schools and secondary schools.
Shortlisted nominations will be posted on Taylor's College social media platforms for public voting, which will contribute to 25 per cent of the final decision.
The stories of the five teachers with the most votes will then be evaluated by a panel of judges, which will include Teach For Malaysia chief executive officer Chan Soon Seng and RISE Educator of the Year 2023 Kumaresan Muniandy, contributing 75 per cent to determine the RISE Educator Award 2024 recipient.
To find out more about the RISE Educator Award and to nominate an educator, visit this website.
