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2009 Teacher on the Trail

Applicants for Teacher on the Trail

by Iditarod Education Department

12/17/2007

What does it take to be Teacher on the Trail^TM? Are you interesting in joining this elite team of educators, write curriculum, and travel along the Iditarod Trail with the Iditarod Air Force during a race? Are you ready for the teaching adventure of a lifetime? Twelve teachers have taken the 2009 challenge and are standing on the runners of the sled with the goal of being the next Teacher on the Trail^TM.

Meeting the December 1 deadline this year were twelve teachers representing nine different states. Interest in the TOTT program is growing. Last year, six teachers applied for Teacher on the Trail^TM, as did six teachers the previous year. The application process for interested teachers is lengthy and requires the educator to build a portfolio which is used as the document from which the finalists are selected. The portfolio includes a video about the teacher, which helps the committee get to know each applicant beyond the written text and lesson examples in the portfolio.

The five member Educational Committee for Iditarod, who live in different areas of the United States, will spend the next several weeks reading and considering the applications, using a rubric to score the portfolios, and naming three finalists who will continue the selection process in Alaska the week of February 25^th. These finalists will participate in personal interviews, volunteer for Iditarod during the week, and be presenters at the Teacher's Conference. (Click more to read about the conference.) On or about January 15, the names of the finalists will be announced. Watch for information about this year's finalists at this area of the website.

Congratulations to the twelve educators who have applied for the 2009 Teacher on the Trail^TM.

CLICK HERE to view lessons from Jane Blaile, our 2008 Teacher on the Trail^TM.

CLICK HERE to view the application for 2010 Teacher on the Trail. NOW is the time to begin planning for submitting your application. Contact the Education Department for additional information. You could be a Teacher on the Trail^TM. Are you ready to hang on to make your own tracks along the Iditarod Trail and in classrooms around the world? Consider applying!